Cat-mint

Cat-mint - Nepeta cataria

Alternative names
Catnip
Description

The corolla is tubular, 2-lipped, and normally whitish, though sometimes it is blue-violet. The light green stems are finely pubescent and 4-angled. The leaves are heart-shaped, toothed, grey-green colour and hairy beneath.

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Either obtain confirmation from a County Recorder before submitting a record, or submit detailed images showing key features.  We recommend that you take and retain a specimen; the County Recorder may wish to see this for confirmation.  (RPR)

Habitat

Usually encountered as an escape from cultivation and often on roadsides or in hedgerows near to habitation.

When to see it

In flower during July, August and September.

Life History

Rhizomatous perennial.

UK Status

England Red List: Vulnerable

[Widespread as an escape from cultivation].

VC55 Status

Rare or rarely recorded in the wild in Leicestershire and Rutland.

In the Flora of Leicestershire (Primavesi & Evans, 1988)  it was found in 1 of the 617 tetrads, and was present in 4 tetrads in the Flora of Rutland (Messenger, 1971)

It is on the current VC55 Rare Plant Register (Hall and Woodward, 2022) as Locally Rare (recent records from limestone areas: Empingham and Bloody Oaks; older records from Ryhall, Tickencote and Knipton). Outside these areas it has occasionally appeared as an introduction or escape form cultivation.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

All NatureSpot records