Catmint is grown for its blooms, which open in summer. It's hardy across USDA zones 3 through 8, shrugs off deer and shrugs off dry spells. Its summer flowers are a real draw for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies.
Zones
3-8
pH Range
4.9-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Catmint on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether catmint actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score catmint against your land's real conditions.
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What Catmint is
Catmint reaches around a foot and a half at maturity. It blooms in summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Catmint
Catmint grows in USDA zones 3 through 8. Catmint does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.9 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 150 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
3-8
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.9 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
39.2°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
1.5 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
150+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant catmint in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Catmint prefers pH 4.9 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at its peak
Cut catmint blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — catmint isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Catmint is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Catmint thrives
Catmint is hardy across USDA zones 3 through 8. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 3–8·Where Catmint growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Catmint can grow in these states:
See if Catmint will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether catmint actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Catmint in my zone?
Catmint grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 8 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Catmint?
Most growers plant catmint after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 150-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Catmint need?
Catmint needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Catmint need?
Catmint prefers soil pH 4.9 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Catmint attract pollinators?
Yes — catmint's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Catmint safe for pets?
Catmint is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.