The Difference Between Catnip and Mint

1. Different families

The scientific name of catnip is Nepeta, which is a perennial plant of the genus Nepeta in the family Lamiaceae. Although mint is also a member of the Lamiaceae family, it is a perennial herb of the genus Mentha.

2. Different appearance

The height of catnip is about 40-150 cm. The base of the stem is woody, quadrangular in shape, and has white soft hairs on the surface. The leaves are heart-shaped, with toothed edges and are yellow-green in color. The flowers are in cymes, the corolla is white, there are purple dots on the lower lip, and there are white hairs on the surface. Mint is only 30-60 cm tall, with relatively upright stems, but it also has creeping rhizomes. The leaves are lanceolate with serrated edges. The flowers are in cymes and the corolla is lavender.

3. Different habits

Catnip prefers a warm and humid climate and an environment with sufficient light, and is not very demanding on the soil. It is very afraid of waterlogging, and even short-term accumulation of water can lead to its death. It is not very cold-resistant and will be frostbitten in an environment of -2℃. The overall requirements of mint are similar to those of mint, and it is also suitable for growing in places with sufficient light, but its cold resistance is much stronger. Even at a low temperature of -15℃, it can still survive the winter safely.

4. Different taste

The special thing about mint is that it has a cool fragrance and is used in many aspects of life. Catnip has no special smell, but it can make cats excited. If you try to give cats mint, they will quickly run away because they don't like the smell.