Catnip is a perennial medicinal herb, long valued for its traditional uses. It's hardy across USDA zones 3 through 9 and stands up to deer. Its summer flowers are a real draw for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies.
Zones
3-9
pH Range
4.9-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
80
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What Catnip is
Catnip grows as a perennial and reaches around three feet at maturity. It blooms white in summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Catnip
Catnip grows in USDA zones 3 through 9 and is ready to harvest about 80 days after planting. Catnip 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 around 800 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 150 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
3-9
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.9 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
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Drainage
well (dry spells)
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Frost Tolerance
39.2°F
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Days to Maturity
80 days
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GDD Required
800+
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Mature Height
3 ft
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Frost-Free Days
150+
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Start the season right
Plant catnip in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Catnip 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
Harvest the part you grow catnip for — flower, leaf, or root — at its seasonal peak.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — catnip isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Catnip is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Catnip thrives
Catnip is hardy across USDA zones 3 through 9. 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 3–9·Where Catnip growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Catnip can grow in these states:
See if Catnip will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether catnip 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 Catnip in my zone?
Catnip grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Catnip take to grow?
Catnip is ready to harvest about 80 days after planting (University Extension production guides). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Catnip?
Most growers plant catnip 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 Catnip need?
Catnip 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 Catnip need?
Catnip 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 Catnip attract pollinators?
Yes — catnip's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Catnip safe for pets?
Catnip is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.