Grow Nepeta cataria (Catnip) in full sun to part shade for the best growth and flowering. You will get a quick, upright clump with aromatic gray-green leaves and small white flowers with pale lavender spotting that draw many pollinators.
Give it average, well-drained soil, but do not worry if your site is lean: it handles poor soils and, once established, shows good drought tolerance. Water regularly the first season; after that, water mainly during extended dry spells. If plants look lanky, pinch or lightly shear in spring for a fuller shape.
After the first flush of bloom, shear the flower stems to tidy the plant and encourage additional flowering. Catnip can reseed freely in some gardens, so deadhead or cut back after flowering if you want fewer volunteers. It is generally not favored by deer, but curious cats may roll on it and break stems, so consider placing it where it can take a little attention or grow it in a container.
At maturity it typically stands about 12-36 inches tall and spreads about 12-24 inches wide. Harvest stems and leaves when in bloom for drying, and use the leaves for herbal tea or culinary flavoring. In cold climates, cut it back after frost and allow it to regrow from the base in spring.