Catnip Seeds – Non-GMO Heirloom

The easygoing mint-family herb worth a spot in your garden

Catnip (Nepeta cataria), also known as catmint, catswort, and catwort, is a hardy perennial herb in the mint family, grown for its soft, gray-green aromatic leaves and its spikes of small white-to-lilac flowers. It is best known for the joyful effect it has on many cats, but it is a fine garden plant in its own right, standing a couple of feet tall, blooming for weeks, and drawing bees and butterflies. Once established, catnip is tough, drought-tolerant, and comes back year after year.

How to grow catnip from seed

Catnip is easy to start from seed and needs little coddling. Sow catnip seeds barely under the surface of well-drained soil in full sun to part shade, keep them lightly moist until they sprout, then thin the seedlings to give each plant room. Plants reach roughly 2 to 3 feet tall, spread into hardy clumps, and are usually ready to harvest for leaves within a few months. Like most mints, catnip can spread, so give it space or grow it in a pot. For the full step-by-step, see our complete guide to growing catnip from seed.

How to use catnip

Catnip has a mild, minty aroma and several uses beyond entertaining your cats. Dry the leaves and stuff them into cat toys, or offer fresh sprigs straight from the garden. For people, the leaves and flowers are traditionally brewed into a gentle, minty herbal tea, and the young leaves can be used sparingly as a culinary herb. In the garden, catnip's long bloom makes it a reliable draw for bees and other pollinators.

Catnip and its mint-family cousins

If you love catnip, you will enjoy its aromatic mint-family relatives. Try mint for classic fragrance and flavor, lemon balm for a lemony tea herb, or bergamot (bee balm) for showy, pollinator-friendly blooms. You can explore the full range in our herb seeds collection.

Why buy catnip seeds from Organo Republic

Every packet of catnip seed we sell is non-GMO, open-pollinated heirloom, and germination tested, so you can sow with confidence. As a U.S.-based licensed seed dealer, we work directly with trusted growers to keep quality high and prices low, and every pack carries a QR code that links straight to free online growing guides. Orders over $49 ship free. Whether you want a single pack of catnip or a curated herb collection, you will find dependable, easy-to-grow seed here.