Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Herbs
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States
Europe, Asia
Types
Cherry laurel, California Bay Laurel, Spotted laurel
Nepeta cataria
Number of Varieties
320
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Tropical regions
Dry areas, Roadsides, stream banks, Stream side, Waste areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-93-7
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-6
7-1
Sunset Zone
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
460.00 cm980.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
300.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Ivory
White, Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Orange Red
Sandy Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Silver
Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Silver
Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Yellow green, Tan, Silver
Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Yellow green, Tan
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval
Arrowhead
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site
Drought, Dry soil
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Stem Planting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, occasional watering once established
Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water when soil is dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune for shortening long shoots, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune in spring, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
fertilize in growing season
fertilize every 2-3 weeks while growing, fertilize in growing season
Pests and Diseases
Beetles, Fusarium wilt, Rust, Scab
Caterpillars, Leaf Hoppers, Nematodes, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Drought, Frost
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Flying insects, Insects, Spider Mites
Allergy
allergic conjunctivitis, Nausea, wheezing
Avoid during Pregnancy, Headache, Stomach pain, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
For treating wrinkles, Hair Conditioner, Making cosmetics
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Indoor Air Purification, Insect Repellent
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Cancer, Diarrhea, Emollient, Migraines, Oral health, treating poison ivy
Arthritis, Cold, constipation, Fever, Insomia, Migraines, Upset stomach
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaf Stalks, Stem
Whole plant
Other Uses
Cosmetics, Culinary use, Florist trade and landscaping, Making Perfumes, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used as Ornamental plant
Air freshner, Decoration Purposes, Employed in herbal medicine, Making Perfumes, Making Shampoo, Making Sweet Scented Oil, Medicinal oil, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Shade Trees
Container, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
Laurus nobilis
NEPETA cataria
Common Name
Sweetbay
Cat Nip, Catnip
In Hindi
Laurus nobilis
कटनीप
In German
Echter Lorbeer
Katzenminze
In French
Laurus nobilis
cataire
In Spanish
Laurus nobilis
Catnip
In Greek
Laurus nobilis
Είδος δυόσμου
In Portuguese
Loureiro
catnip
In Polish
Wawrzyn szlachetny
Kocimiętka
In Latin
Laurus nobilis
catnip
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Laurales
Lamiales
Family
Magnoliaceae
Lamiaceae
Genus
Laurus
Nepeta
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Epidendreae
Mentheae
Subfamily
Epidendroideae
Nepetoideae
Number of Species
3250
1
27800
👆🏻