What Does Lemon Catnip Look Like?

Lemon Catnip is very similar to the more common Catnip plant and is considered to be a sister plant. This variety should reach a height and width of 90cm by 90cm. In summer it has small white flowers with a purple hue and occasionally purple spots, as found on common catmint, will appear.

Is lemon catnip the same as catnip?

They are easy to tell apart by their aroma, differences in pubescence, leaf shape, bloom arrangement, and their effect on most cats. Lemon balm has a lemony aroma, and prefers moister habitats whereas catnip is found in drier habitats.

Is lemon catnip a perennial?

Catnip Lemon (Nepeta cataria spp. citriodora) is a hardy perennial in the mint family that attracts all pollinators to the garden. Once established, she is drought resistant.

Is lemon catnip safe for cats?

Use: Not just for cats, but also for you! Lemon Catnip makes a nice soothing and relaxing tea, effective at clearing sinus passages. Lemon Catnip makes a great natural insect repellent and companion plant!

Is lemon catnip edible for humans?

Catnip is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when taken by mouth in small amounts. Cupful amounts of catnip tea have been consumed without serious side effects. However, catnip is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when smoked or taken by mouth in high doses (many cups of catnip tea, for example).

How do you identify a lemon balm plant?

Distinguishing Features
Lemon Balm is a fairly typical example of plants in the mint family. Its foliage usually has a mild lemon fragrance, otherwise this plant is rather similar to several other species in the mint family with small whitish flowers.

Does lemon balm look like?

Like other mint family members, lemon balm has scalloped, oval- to heart-shaped leaves that grow opposite one another on square (four-sided) stems. Its leaves are bright green on top and whitish below.

Is lemon balm invasive?

If not carefully controlled, lemon balm can quickly become invasive in the garden. Often, people mistakenly think that lemon balm is invasive due to its roots, like its cousins peppermint and spearmint, but in fact it’s the seeds of the lemon balm plant that cause this herb to suddenly take over a garden.

What does catnip plant smell like?

mint
A member of the mint family, Nepeta cataria L. (aka catnip) grows throughout the United States. The plant features small, lavender flowers and jagged, heart-shaped leaves that smell faintly of mint.

What does fresh catnip smell like?

As part of the mint family, fresh catnip also smells minty, though this is not the case for the dried catnip sometimes present in commercial cat treats or toys, which may smell more like dried grass.

Can you make tea with catnip?

Catnip tea, like other herbal teas, is made by introducing boiling water to the dried plant and steeping for a maximum of 10 minutes. Catnip tea was traditionally used as an herbal medicine for restlessness, nervousness and nervous disorders, coughs, asthma, gas, and diarrhea.

What is the difference between catnip and catmint?

Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii) is similar to catnip, but does not stimulate cats. It is a low-growing mounded plant with attractive, gray-green foliage. It’s profuse blue flowers appear in early summer and again through the monsoon season. It is heat and drought tolerant once established.

What plants cats love?

Felines enjoy attractive edible flowers such as zinnias, marigolds and Johnny-jump-ups, as well as catnip, cat thyme, oat grass, rosemary and bean sprouts. Although catnip has a reputation as a cat favorite, you might want to try some on your cat before you plant it, because not all cats like it.

What does peppermint do to cats?

Peppermint oil is highly toxic to cats.
Without the enzymes required to break down phenols, cats exposed to peppermint oil can experience: Liver damage. Breathing difficulties. Wobbliness and seizures.

What is the human equivalent of catnip?

A human analog that causes similar effects [as catnip on cats], as in a comparable high, would be LSD or marijuana.

Is catnip illegal in the US?

With marijuana becoming legalized shortly, is catnip next? Catnip was never illegal, but it is an interesting plant. Felines of all sizes seem to love to play with it, and it often helps to calm cats down for short periods of time. Give it a try!

Does catnip have any benefits for humans?

The antispasmodic properties of catnip give it benefits for calming indigestion and cramps. It also acts as a carminative, meaning it relieves gas, and can help with constipation and bloating. The anti-inflammatory properties of catnip calm inflammation in the digestive system and help with pain.

What is cat nip used for?

Catnip is commonly used to encourage cats to explore and play, but it can also be used as a training aid. Place a small amount of catnip on your cat’s scratching post to encourage scratching, or in their carrier to encourage them to enter, thereby creating a positive association.

What does catnip look like in the garden?

Hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9, catnip is a perennial herb with a clumping growth habit that can reach a few feet tall and wide. It has square stems similar to other members of the mint family, as well as gray-green toothed leaves, and spikes of small white or light pink flowers with pale purple specks.

Can I eat lemon balm raw?

As a general rule of thumb, treat lemon balm as you would any other fresh herb. It works especially well in place of mint, offering bright, fragrant notes. Add whole lemon balm leaves to green salads, or chiffonade the leaves and scatter them over a fruit salad for added zesty flavor.

Is lemon balm poisonous?

When taken by mouth: Lemon balm is likely safe when consumed in amounts found in foods. Lemon balm supplements are possibly safe when used at a dose of up to 500 mg daily for up to 6 months. Side effects are generally mild and might include increased appetite, nausea, dizziness, and wheezing.