Catnip

Nepeta cataria, commonly known as catnip or catmint, is a species of the genus Nepeta in the mint family. It is native to southern and eastern Europe, northern parts of the Middle East, and Central Asia. The plant is widely naturalized in northern Europe, New Zealand, and North America. The common name catmint can also refer to the genus as a whole. Catnip is a short-lived perennial herb that grows between 30–100 cm (12–39 in) tall. It has square stems, grayish canescent leaves that vary in shape and have serrated edges, fragrant small bilabiate flowers arranged in raceme spikes, and produces small three-sided nutlets containing one to four seeds. It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, with no subspecies but multiple botanical synonyms. Its name is derived from medieval Latin and reflects its historical association with cats and various traditional names dating back to medieval England. Catnip is named for the intense attraction that about two-thirds of cats have to the plant due to the terpene nepetalactone. This chemical acts as a natural insect repellent and induces playful, euphoric behavior in cats. It is used in herbal teas for its sedative and relaxant properties, and is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant.