Catmint vs. Catnip: Key Differences You Need to Know

Folks are often confused about the difference between catmint and catnip, and it’s not surprising. Both belong to the same genus, Nepeta, and even look similar (both have square stems). But learning catmint vs. catnip will help you decide which one fits your garden best.

Part of the trouble is that all catnip is a catmint, but not all catmints are catnip.

The common names catmint and catnip are similar enough to cause some confusion, and retailers commonly confuse them. When classified botanically, it gets a little better. While plants under both common names are members of the genus Nepeta (in the mint family), several distinct species are referred to by each name.

• Catnip commonly refers to Nepeta cataria, although it can also refer to Lemon catnip (N. citriodora), Camphor catnip, (Nepeta cataria ‘Camphorata’), and Greek catnip, (N. parnassica).
• Catmint is used for Nepeta racemosa, N. subsessilis, N. mussinii, and N. faassenii, and loosely for about two hundred other species of Nepeta.

The general rule is catmints are the more attractive ornamental plants (subjectively, of course–beauty is in the eye of the beholder), and catnip is the more fragrant but weedy, cat-psychoactive plant.

What is Catmint?

The herbaceous perennial we call catmint is a group of many species and hybrids in the mint family belonging to the genus Nepeta. All of them are attractive to cats, some more than others. They’re native to Eurasia and eastern tropical Africa.

Catmint is a clumping plant that works very well in cottage gardens and meadows and as an anchor or backdrop plant in a shorter perennial bed. With lightly blue-green foliage and fine pale lavender blooms, it provides a splash of color and texture but won’t steal the show.

It likes full sun and excellent drainage and will tolerate about any kind of soil as long as it isn’t soggy. You can read our Catmint guide for more help. The leaves are good for herbal teas and can act as an insect repellent in the garden, most effectively against aphids. I can attest that the rabbits and deer will walk right by it. As far as I can tell, they’ve never given it so much as a taste test nibble.

While it doesn’t spread out of control, the plants themselves can get large and can be used for an effective and pollinator-friendly ground cover. Utilize catmint’s tolerance for scrubby soils to get some greenery and flower power in tough-to-grow areas like south-facing dry slopes, hot areas next to the garage wall, or other problem areas. If you’re looking to provide pollinator habitat without a lot of work, a mass planting of catmint will be a buzz with bees all summer long.

But what about the cats? Catmint plants have some of the same aromatic volatiles as their cousin catnip, but not in the same concentration. Some varieties, like Walker’s Low, are less interesting to cats.

What is Catnip?

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a herbaceous perennial. It is somewhat short-lived and usually grows to a moderate 2 to 4 feet in height. It’s famous for its effect on cats, caused by a volatile oil containing nepetalactones. Like humans with other substances, individual cats react differently to catnip. Some become hyperactive and bounce around the room doing acrobatics, while others become chill and relaxed.

When sniffed, catnip seems to provoke the crazy kitty response, but when eaten, it becomes a sedative. Most affected cats will exhibit altered behavior for 10-15 minutes before it wears off. Kittens are unaffected until they are several months old, and as many as half of cats seem to be uninterested. Catnip is generally safe for cats, although imbibing too much can cause nausea.

The catnip plant is more loose and straggly than its catmint cousins and is more likely to spread. Due to its less well-kept appearance, catnip is often grown only as a herb for cats to eat. However, people use it in tea for medicinal purposes or as a mosquito repellent. It can be weedy and aggressive.

How to Spot the Differences

If you’re unsure which is growing in your garden, it can be tough to tell the difference between catmint vs. catnip. Start by looking at the flowers to see if they’re blooming. Catnip flowers are white, while catmint flowers are lavender or light purple.

I find catnip foliage to be a brighter green than catmint in spring, which stays true well into summer. Catnip leaves are also often larger, although they are both serrated.

If you have two plants near each other, look at how the leaves are attached. Catnip often has longer petioles than catmint.

Catnip vs. Catmint Comparison Table

If you’re truly stumped, ask a neighborhood cat. Most catmints are not nearly as potent for our feline friends as catnip. If they prefer one to the other, you’ve got your answer!