Catnip is native to Southern Europe, but is widely naturalized all over Europe and North America, where some of the best quality in the world is grown in the state of Washington. It is a 50-100 cm tall perennial herb resembling mint in appearance, with greyish-green leaves. The flowers are white, finely spotted with purple. Catnip is, as its name suggests, the herb of choice for cats. Leaves are triangular-ovate with a heart-shaped base, sharp, coarse, pubescent. The fruit is a brown elliptical smooth nut. Catnip blooms in June - July. The fruits ripen in July - August.