2007-11-25 00:58:46 · 4 answers · asked by J. K 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
Different varieties of the same plant, nepeta.. Catnip has that strong pungent odor that attracts some cats, and sparse purple flowers. The leaves can be made into tea, it is a calming, soothing drink that is supposed to have some medicinal qualities. (Peter Rabbit's mother made him drink catnip tea after he fell in the watering can, remember?) It can get pretty big. Catmint is sold as a perennial for the garden, and the foliage is sweet smelling. It has a lot of pretty purple flowers, and is usually cut back after floweriing to make it bloom a second time. It usually only gets about 18" tall but spreads quite wide. Sold as Blue Wonder, Walkers Low, Caitlin's Giant, and more.
2007-11-25 02:02:49 · answer #1 · answered by Isadora 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are about 350 species of plant in the genus Nepeta all of which are referred to as catnip or catmint. So there are lots of different species but any of them can be called catmint or catnip. Valerian root has a similar effect on cats also.
2007-11-25 01:09:01 · answer #2 · answered by Jon R 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Very interesting link below about cat nip
CATNIP
Common names:
Catnip, Catnep, Catmint, Catrup, Catswort
Scientific name: Nepeta Cataria
The following bit of English folklore says it all.
If you set it, the cats will eat it. If you sow it, the cats won’t know it.
http://faculty.ucc.edu/biology-ombrello/POW/catnip.htm
2007-11-25 01:32:04 · answer #3 · answered by LucySD 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is one type of catmint .
2007-11-25 01:32:05 · answer #4 · answered by mikeinportc 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋