Name this plant! Ground ivy? Mint?

[RJSchaefer]

I have this growing ALL OVER a bed I want to prepare for peas. If it's mint, I want to save some of it. If it's ground ivy, I want to burn the whole thing down.

The leaves don't smell like "mint." They have a minty fragrance when bruised, but it's more like a catnip bite with a hint of mint than "true" mint. Slightly furry. Longer and more scalloped than the images of ground ivy, and the flowers don't have as many petals as the guide images of ground ivy. It has a thick, woody stems and some of the plants are a foot (or more) tall.

It really really REALLY looks like the guide identifier for mint, but I doubt I could be that lucky.

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[erinszoo]

Looks like catnip to me. It's not regular mint. I have spearmint, chocolate mint, and lemon mint and none of them look like this but it does look like my mothers catnip, which is a type of mint. So I guess your cats are lucky?

 

[RJSchaefer]

A friend identified it as "catmint" - I guess if catnip it kitty crack, catmint is more like dope, but the terms are used interchangeably so it really doesn't matter.

Sadly, no cats to enjoy it.

 

[fuentemoon]

can be used by humans too has pretty much the opposite effect on us though.

 

[Htwo]

This looks to be purple deadnettle. Some call it a weed, but I disagree. It supports honeybees in the area looking for a fresh, Spring, food source after winter. It is in the mint family, as well.

 

[lazy gardener]

I think it's catnip. It is most likely in mint family, if you pull it and find lots of underground stolons. Since it doesn't smell wonderfully minty fragrant to you, simply get rid of it (try if you can!!!!) and plant what you want. I predict that you will be fighting it for a good many years to come! If you want mint, go shopping for some to buy, or get some from a friend. Some mints have a more pleasing fragrance/taste than others. Let your nose be your guide in determining what you decide to plant. All mints are invasive! Bear that in mind! I have relegated my mints to the untamed areas beyond my lawn.