Are Catnip and Hyssop in the same botanical family?

Yes — both belong to Lamiaceae.

Can you substitute Catnip for Hyssop?

They share the Lamiaceae family, so they can sometimes substitute in recipes — with notable differences in aroma.

Compare · per-herb profile

Catnip vs Hyssop

Nepeta cataria · Hyssopus officinalis

Catnip

Nepeta cataria

T Traditional Use

Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Nepeta
Primary use: aromatic

Nepeta cataria, commonly known as catnip and catmint, is a species of the genus Nepeta in the mint family, native to southern and eastern Europe, northern parts of the Middle East, and Central Asia. It is widely naturalized in northern Europe, New Zealand, and North America. The …

Hyssop

Hyssopus officinalis

T Traditional Use

Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Hyssopus
Primary use: aromatic

Hyssopus officinalis or hyssop is a shrub in the Lamiaceae or mint family native to Southern Europe, the Middle East, and the region surrounding the Caspian Sea. Due to its purported properties as an antiseptic, cough reliever, and expectorant, it has been used in traditional her…

At a glance

· Both in Lamiaceae, but different genera (Nepeta vs Hyssopus).
· Both are primarily aromatic.
· Evidence tiers — Catnip: T; Hyssop: T.