Lemon Scented Catnip seed packet
- botanical name: Nepeta cataria, ‘citriodorum’
- perennial zones 4-9
- height 8″
- spacing 12″ apart
- full sun tolerant
- average soil
- flower color blue
- uses in garden: as a border, great in containers, cut flower, drought tolerant, fragrant
- use in cat toys, potpourri, teas
- attracts bees and butterflies
Lemon Catnip is a subspecies of the common catnip – the attraction to cats is the same. The difference lies, not only in the lemon scent but also the appearance. The plants are a bit smaller than common catnip and the foliage is a soft green rather than gray/green. Tastes great in teas and has the same mild sedative effect. Blue blooms in summer attract honeybees.
Many believe that a cat’s attraction to catnip is its power to intoxicate them; this is false. The odor to them is the same as the scent of a potential mate looking for love (a different kind of intoxication altogether)!
Sowing Instructions:
Sow seed indoors in early April, transplant in early June. Sow seed outdoors in mid- May. Can be invasive. A good plant to grow in pots.
For best results start seed indoors 4-6 weeks before transplanting in the spring. Cover seeds 1/8″-1/4″ with fine soil or vermiculite. Seeds will germinate in 7-14 days. Transplant outdoors when all danger of frost has past in a sunny to part-shade location. Space plants 12″ apart.
