Are The The Same?

[society]

Is catnip and lemon balm the same plant? I Googled catnip and the pictures looked just like lemon balm.

[sir.prize]

Explanation here

http://voices.yahoo.com/catmint-catnip-tell-difference-3298276.html?cat=32

[society]

Thanks Sir.P

[Answerprancer]

They are both totally different. Lemon balm had shiny green leaves that smell of - well, lemon when crushed. Catnip leaves are thicker and slightly felty and when crushed have a leathery minty smell IMO.

[Old_Geezer]

I'm glad it's not the case that only one of them is totally different :-) that would be confusing.

[murraymints]

Had both in garden..cat rolled in ecstasy in catnip....hated lemon...

[Chipchopper]

In short, Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) & Cat mint (Nepeta cataria) are both members of the mint family.

Like many mints, they have different properties and uses

[society]

Thanks everyone for your help. x