Nepeta cataria 

'Catmint / Catnip'

Lamiaceae: an upright, greyish, downy perennial to 50mm. the whole plant has a minty smell that cats find alluring. Grows in dry, grassy places, including verges and hedgerows, often on chalky soils. The flowers are white with purple spots, forms whorls and clusters, on terminal heads, from July-September. The heart-shaped, toothed, stalked. Downy below and woolly above, and when bruised smell of mint. Widespread but very local, mostly found in Southern England and Southern Wales, also found naturalised as a garden escape anywhere. Native to Europe, including Britain, from Scandinavia south and east to Spain, Western and Central Asia to the Himalayas.

USES:

The young leaves can be eaten raw, they have a mint-like flavour, and they make an aromatic flavouring in salads. Older leaves are used as a flavouring in cooked foods. They can be used fresh or dried to make an aromatic herbal tea, the tea should be infused in a closed container in order to preserve the essential oils, boiling is said to spoil it.

Catmint has a long history of use as a household herbal remedy, being employed especially in treating disorders of the digestive system and, as it stimulates sweating, it is useful in reducing fevers. The herbs pleasant taste and gentle action makes it suitable for treating colds, flu and fevers in children. It is more effective when used in conjunction with elder flower (Sambucus nigra). The leaves and flowering tops are strongly antispasmodic, antitussive, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, slightly emmenagogue, refrigerant, sedative, slightly stimulant, stomachic and tonic. The flowering stems are harvested in August when the plant is in full flower, they are dried and stored for use as required. An infusion produces free perspiration, it is considered to be beneficial in the treatment of fevers and colds. It is also very useful in the treatment of restlessness and nervousness, being very useful as a mild nervine for children. A tea made from the leaves can also be used. The infusion is also applied externally to bruises, especially black eyes.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Best sown in the autumn, but can be sown at any time of the year, you must protect young plants from the cats, yes they really do find this plant irresistible, and they will kill younger plants if not protected.

HARVESTED: 2018

APPROX. 300+ SEEDS