This popular feline herb ("catnip") is widely naturalized in temperate regions of North America. Nepeta was not reported from Ky. until 1893 by Pr, and was omitted by Gm in 1914. It has become widely associated with disturbed base-rich soils, especially barnyards, dusty ground under eaves and under cliffs, or similar habitats. It is generally avoided by herbivorous mammals, and sometimes also appears within woods along animal trails. Most domestric cats and some of their relatives are pleasureably stimulated by the plant (with less exhibited stress, passive "sphinx-like position" or active rolling-over, etc.); the main active chemical in its essential oil is a bicyclic monoterpenoid, "nepetalactone" (Bol et al. 2017, Espín-Iturbe et al. 2017). With several other terpenoids, there is some potential for human medicinal uses: the species "possesses spasmolytic and myorelaxant activities mediated possibly through dual inhibition of calcium channels and PDE [phosphodiesterase], which may explain its traditional use in colic, diarrhea, cough and asthma" (Gilani et al. 2009). Catnip oil is also an effective repellant for cockroaches, flies and mosquitoes (Zhu et al. 2012).