Nepeta cataria
Catnip is a hardy perennial in the mint family, with gray-green scalloped leaves and a spreading habit familiar from many other mints.1
The leaves have a long history as an infusion herb. Lemon catnip is a form selected for a distinct lemon aroma.1
Catnip and ornamental catmint are related but not necessarily interchangeable names. Nepeta cataria is the species most strongly associated with the characteristic feline response.
Although completely naturalized, catnip is introduced rather than native in New England. It is documented in all six states in fields, roadsides, waste ground, clearings, and deciduous woods.2