Flowering Catnip: How to Encourage More Blooms
Encourage your catnip to produce its delicate flowers. Learn how specific growing conditions and simple maintenance can lead to more abundant, continuous blooms.
Catnip, or Nepeta cataria, is a perennial herb from the mint family, widely recognized for the euphoric reaction it elicits in many cats. While the aromatic foliage is its main claim to fame, the plant also produces flowers. Proper care can encourage it to display these delicate blooms, adding another dimension to this popular garden herb.
The Catnip Flowering Season
Catnip produces its flowers on dense whorls that form spike-like clusters at the ends of its stems. The individual flowers are small and tubular, a trait of the mint family. They are white and feature pale purple or pink spots on their lower lip.
The plant’s blooming period is long, starting in late spring and continuing through the fall. Gardeners can expect flowers to appear from May until September. The nectar-rich flowers attract a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
Encouraging Catnip to Bloom
Sunlight
To promote abundant flowering, catnip should be planted in a location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. While catnip can tolerate partial shade, plants in sunnier spots produce more blooms. In regions with intense summer heat, providing some afternoon shade can be beneficial.
Soil
Catnip is not a demanding plant and thrives in average to poor soil. It prefers ground that is well-draining, as it is susceptible to issues if its roots stay too wet. Overly rich or heavily fertilized soil can work against flowering, encouraging the plant to produce lush foliage at the expense of blooms.
Watering
Catnip is a drought-tolerant plant once it has become established in the garden. It is best to allow the soil to dry out somewhat between waterings to prevent the soil from becoming waterlogged. Consistent overwatering can lead to root problems and may inhibit the plant’s ability to flower effectively.
Post-Flowering Care and Uses
Once the initial wave of flowers begins to fade, removing the spent blooms is an effective way to stimulate the plant to produce more. This practice, known as deadheading, prevents the plant from setting seed and redirects its energy into generating a new flush of flowers.
After the main flowering season concludes in the fall, it is beneficial to prune the entire plant. Cutting the stems back helps to maintain a compact and tidy shape for the following year. This pruning also removes any dead or damaged growth, contributing to the overall health of the plant as it prepares for winter dormancy. The plant will die back to the ground in winter before new growth emerges in the spring.
The flowers of the catnip plant contain the same compound, nepetalactone, that is found in the leaves and stems, making them just as potent for cats. The flowers can be harvested right along with the foliage. The cuttings can be dried and used in homemade cat toys or stored for your pet’s enjoyment. The leaves and flowers can also be used to make herbal teas.