Catnip (Nepeta cataria) vs Dill (Anethum graveolens)

Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

Dill (Anethum graveolens)

About

Catnip is a downy, aromatic perennial growing to 3 feet with heart-shaped, gray-green leaves and whorls of white flowers marked with purple spots. Native to Europe and naturalized in North America, it grows in dry wayside places and mountainous regions up to altitudes of 5,000 feet. The plant is gathered when in flower during summer and autumn. Catnip has an excitatory effect on cats.

Dill is an aromatic annual growing to 30 inches with an erect hollow stem, feathery leaves, and numerous yellow flowers in umbels. Its very lightweight, pungent fruit (seeds) are harvested in late summer. Native to southern Europe and central and southern Asia, dill grows wild in open areas and is widely cultivated - notably in England, Germany, and North America. The leaves are picked as a culinary herb. Dill was commonly used as a charm against witchcraft in the Middle Ages, when it was burned to clear thunderclouds. Its name comes from the Norse 'dylla,' meaning 'to soothe.'

Safety & precautions

Large doses can cause vomiting. Ask a qualified professional before giving it to children or babies. Avoid during pregnancy.

Take the essential oil internally only under professional supervision.

Safety text above is printed in full and is never abbreviated. For each plant’s complete precautions, drug and food interactions and preparation notes, open its own page - both are free.