Flower profile

Catnip

Nepeta cataria

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a flowering plant in the Lamiaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–September across the U.S.

Introduced in the lower 48

Catnip is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 6 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–September.

48states where USDA records it

6Bloomipedia state lists include it

13,559U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota

Quick look

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.
From Wikipedia's article Catnip, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Lamiaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 48 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as not native to Minnesota, Idaho, Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa and North Dakota. ^NatureServe
In Minnesota, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,517 research-grade sightings of it in Minnesota, ranking #91 among the 152 flowers on our Minnesota list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 425 research-grade sightings of it in Idaho, ranking #95 among the 143 flowers on our Idaho list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 395 research-grade sightings of it in Nebraska, ranking #26 among the 147 flowers on our Nebraska list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (773 records)

Bloom time in the 6 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Minnesota	Introduced	June–August	1,517
Idaho	Introduced	few records (12)	425
Nebraska	Introduced	few records (17)	395
South Dakota	Introduced	few records (28)	368
Iowa	Introduced	few records (23)	364
North Dakota	Introduced	few records (7)	129

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe
Minnesota: Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Minnesota. ^{Minn. R. 6134.0300}
Idaho: No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Idaho.
Nebraska: Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Nebraska. ^{163 NAC 4-004}
South Dakota: No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in South Dakota.
Iowa: Not listed Not on Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Iowa. ^{IAC 571-77.3}
North Dakota: No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in North Dakota.
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “Leaves for herbal teas, soups, stews, sauces, vegetables, or pasta.” ^{NC State Extension}

For petsToxic to cats

ASPCA's entry “Catnip” (Nepeta cataria) lists it as toxic to cats. Signs include: Many cats love catnip, but it can cause vomiting and diarrhea. It makes some cats sedated and others… ^ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records catnip in 48 states plus Washington, D.C.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.

Minnesota counties with USDA records: Anoka, Benton, Big Stone, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Dakota, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Redwood, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Traverse, Wabasha, Washington, Wilkin, Winona, Wright.

Idaho counties with USDA records: Ada, Bannock, Bear Lake, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, Canyon, Cassia, Clearwater, Elmore, Franklin, Idaho, Jefferson, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, Lewis, Nez Perce, Owyhee, Power, Washington.

Nebraska counties with USDA records: Antelope, Boone, Box Butte, Boyd, Buffalo, Burt, Cass, Cedar, Chase, Cherry, Colfax, Cuming, Custer, Dawes, Dawson, Deuel, Douglas, Dundy, Franklin, Gage, Garden, Gosper, Hall, Harlan, Holt, Howard, Jefferson, Kearney, Keya Paha, Knox, Lancaster, Lincoln, Merrick, Nemaha, Otoe, Phelps, Platte, Red Willow, Richardson, Saline, Sarpy, Saunders, Scotts Bluff, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Sioux, Valley, Washington, Webster, Wheeler, York.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Introduced; Canada: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 1117 counties across 45 states; the most are in Ohio (78), Illinois (77), Kansas (72).

More from the Lamiaceae family (44 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common selfheal, Ground-ivy, Red deadnettle, American beautyberry, Henbit deadnettle, Wild bergamot, Lyreleaf sage, American germander.

More Minnesota flowers

Wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in MN: July–August

Common motherwort

Leonurus cardiaca

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in MN: June–July

Ground-ivy

Glechoma hederacea

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in MN: April–June

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile NECA2.
iNaturalist, Nepeta cataria: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Catnip (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
State rare and invasive plant lists (9):
Show all 9 state lists
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Nepeta cataria (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
Photo: Jake via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.