Above: Catnip by Stevens Pond in UW Arboretum- Madison (7/23/19).
Catnip - Nepeta cataria (Introduced/naturalized)
Catnip is a perennial that has square stems that are characteristic of the mint family that grows 18"-40" tall.
Small white blossoms with pale purple or pink spotting arranged in a dense whorls. The small upper lip has two lobes, while the lower lip has three lobes.
The plant has aromatic leaves that are attactive to cats.
Blooms July-August.
Other names: catswort, catwort, and catmint.
Above: Catnip stem and dragonfly in woods by Wingra Park parking lot on July 5, 2020.
For more information on the Catnip, visit Wikipedia.
Or, visit the UW-Madison Wisconsin State Herbarium website page about Catnip.
Or, visit the UW-Madison Master Gardener Program website page about Catnip.
Catnip
Nepeta cataria
Above: Catnip by Stevens Pond in UW Arboretum- Madison on July 11, 2019.
Above: Catnip by Stevens Pond in UW Arboretum- Madison on July 5, 2019.
Above: Young Catnip leaves.
Above: Catnip specimen collected in Madison, Wisconsin near railroad track on East Washington and Dickenson on September 17, 2000.
Above: 1796 Catnip botanical illustration.
Above: Catnip botanical illustration circa 1917-1926.