What Do Catnip Seeds Look Like? A Guide to Identifying and Growing This Feline-Friendly Herb

Catnip is a perennial herb in the mint family that produces small, teardrop-shaped seeds. These unassuming seeds grow into a plant beloved by cats for its intoxicating scent and humans for its relaxing tea. But what exactly do catnip seeds look like?

An Overview of Catnip Seeds

Catnip seeds are very small, measuring just 1 to 2 millimeters long. They have an oval or teardrop shape and are light brown or tan in color. The seeds form inside tiny nutlets at the top of the catnip plant. When the flowers fade in late summer, these nutlets dry and split open, dispersing the seeds.

Catnip is botanically known as Nepeta cataria. It’s native to parts of Europe, Central Asia, and Africa. The plant grows upright to about 3 feet tall and has soft green or grayish leaves. From late spring through fall, it produces clusters of small lavender, pink, or white flowers.

Along with its intoxicating scent catnip produces a chemical called nepetalactone. This oil is what gives catnip its allure for felines. When cats eat, sniff, or rub against the plant, nepetalactone binds to receptors in their brains inducing a euphoric state.s also enjoy catnip, using the leaves and flowers to make relaxing herbal teas and remedies. The herb has a minty aroma with hints of lemon and oregano.

Identifying Catnip Seeds

Catnip seeds can be tricky to distinguish from other herb seeds at first glance. Here are a few tips for identifying them:

• Size Catnip seeds are small, measuring 1 to 2 mm long This is comparable to basil or thyme seeds.

• Shape: The seeds have a teardrop or oval shape. They are not perfectly round.

• Color: Look for light tan or brown seeds. They should not be dark brown or black.

• Surface: Under magnification, the seed surface should be faintly ribbed or wrinkled. The texture is not completely smooth.

• Scent: Crush a seed gently between your fingers and sniff. Catnip seeds have a faint minty, oregano-like aroma.

• Plant: If you’re harvesting seeds from an established catnip plant in your garden, look for the small nutlets at the top of the flower spikes. The seeds form inside these nutlets.

When and How Catnip Produces Seeds

Catnip is a prolific self-seeder, which is why it spreads so easily in gardens. Here is the typical seed production cycle:

• Late spring to summer: Catnip plants produce clusters of pink, white, or lavender flowers on upright spikes. The flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.

• Summer to early fall: After pollination, small brown nutlets form at the top of the flower spikes. Each nutlet contains 1-4 tiny catnip seeds.

• Late summer/fall: The nutlets begin to dry and split open as the seeds mature. This dispersal of seeds is why catnip readily reseeds itself.

• Winter: The seeds lie dormant through winter. In spring, they will germinate to produce new catnip plants.

To collect seeds: You can pick the dry, brown nutlets off the spent flower spikes anytime from late summer through fall. Store the nutlets in an airtight container until ready to extract the seeds.

Growing Catnip from Seed

Catnip seeds are very easy to grow. Here are a few tips:

• When to plant: Sow seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last expected frost. Or sow directly outside after the danger of frost has passed. Catnip thrives in zones 3-9.

• How to plant: Catnip seeds need light to germinate. Barely press them into loose, well-draining soil or seed starting mix. Cover with just 1/8 inch of soil.

• Germination: Seeds should germinate within 7-14 days at 70°F. Cooler temperatures may delay germination.

• Transplanting: Thin or transplant seedlings 12-15 inches apart when they are 2-3 inches tall. Give them plenty of space, as catnip grows rapidly.

• Care: Grow catnip in full sun to partial shade. Keep soil moist but not soaked. Cut plants back through the season to promote bushiness and limit self-seeding.

Storing Catnip Seeds

To maintain viability, catnip seeds should be stored in a cool, dry location away from direct light. Here are a few tips:

• Store seeds in an airtight glass jar or zip-close bag in the refrigerator. This prevents moisture loss.

• For longer term storage of up to 1-2 years, keep seeds in the freezer inside airtight containers.

• Ideal storage temperature is 40-50°F. Higher room temperatures shorten shelf life.

• Including a silica gel packet inside the container will help absorb moisture.

• Avoid storing in humid environments which will cause seeds to mold.

• Properly stored, catnip seeds can remain viable for 2-3 years before germination rates decline.

• Always label containers with the seed type and year collected.

Why Catnip Plants Produce Seeds

Like all flowering plants, catnip depends on seeds for reproduction and genetic diversity. Its prolific seed production allows the species to spread effectively:

• Reproduction: Seeds enable new catnip plants to grow after the parent plant dies. They preserve the next generation.

• Propagation: Thanks to seeds, catnip easily colonizes new territory. Winds and animals disperse the tiny seeds.

• Diversity: Sexual reproduction via seeds creates genetic variation. This helps the species adapt to changing conditions over time.

• Resilience: Abundant seeds give catnip a better chance of survival. Even if some seeds don’t germinate or seedlings die, others will make it.

• Seasonality: Seeds help catnip survive cold winters or drought when vegetation dies back. They remain dormant and protected until growing conditions improve.

So while the seeds may seem small and inconsequential, they are vital to catnip’s success as a species! Their dispersal ensures catnip continues propagating far and wide.

A Versatile and Easy-to-Grow Herb

With their petite size, faintly wrinkled surface, and earthy aroma, catnip seeds reveal just a hint of the versatile herb hidden inside. Letting those diminutive seeds grow into leafy, fragrant catnip plants is extremely rewarding. A few plants will provide ample leaves and flowers for your feline friends as well as for teas and other uses. Catnip is right at home in any garden and makes a great beginner-friendly plant. Give it plenty of sun, well-drained soil, and occasional pruning, and you’ll have a thriving patch of this cat-favorite herb.