catmint

[kat-mint]

noun

Chiefly British.

1. catnip.

catmint

/ ˈkætˌmɪnt /

noun

1. Also called: catnip. a Eurasian plant, Nepeta cataria, having spikes of purple-spotted white flowers and scented leaves of which cats are fond: family Lamiaeae (labiates)

Word History and Origins

Origin of catmint¹

1225–75; Middle English cattesminte equivalent to cattes, genitive of cat ( def. ) + minte mint ¹

Example Sentences

By midday, they moved on to blue star amsonia, Little Trudy catmint, sea holly and pasqueflower, which bloomed early in the season and provided food to pollinators building their nests.

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I questioned Mom about the purple-blossomed plants waving in the breeze between us and the placid water of north Lake Union — catmint, she said, as a bee also investigated.

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After flowering, catmint can be trimmed back by one-third or more to prevent flopping.

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Think swathes of catmint, field scabious and hyssop.

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Or grilled Manila clams with a rich green garlic emulsion under a blanket of bolted fava shoots and catmint flowers — a super-delicious meeting of garden and shore.

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