Sow Exotic Medicinal & Culinary Herbs Japanese Catnip (Schizonepeta Tenuifolia)

Japanese Catnip is a beautiful flowering medicinal herb native to Eastern Asia where it has been used in traditional herbal medicine as an aromatic cold remedy for centuries. Japanese Catnip is also called Jing Jie or Schizonepeta, and is from the Lamiaceae family of plants, related to mint and oregano.  It’s in the same family as other catnip varieties, but is not a “true” catnip that attracts cats. Japanese Catnip is a fast growing upright shrubby herb and shoots gorgeous highly fragrant purple flower spikes in late summer. 

In traditional medicine, the aerial portions of Japanese Catnip are also purportedly used to treat inflammation from dermatitis and eczema. Its green buds can be used as a pediatric sedative. Most commonly, the herb is sun dried and rid of impurities before ingesting. The taste is pungent. The history of the helpful herb goes back to 1550 AD and is often referred to as Jing Jie Sui when cultivated for the flower spikes exclusively.

You can easily grow your own healing Japanese Catnip plant in a pot indoors or out.  Indoors on a sunny window sill,  Japanese Catnip will fill your room with its delightful herbaceous fragrance. Fall in love with the unique flower spikes and learn more about Japanese Catnip’s many benefits!