- ‘Walker’s Low’ plants are 30 inches tall and 36 inches wide, with lavender-blue flowers. As a side note, the name is not short because it derives from an Irish garden. Walker’s Low was chosen as the Perennial of the Year in 2007 by the Perennial Plant Association, and it is actually almost as tall as “Six Hills Giant.”
Don’t restrict yourself to just these four options if you feel driven to hunt for catmint in your neighborhood garden centers. Numerous other top-notch cultivars are also readily available, including “Dropmore,” “Blue Wonder,” and “Junior Walker,” a scaled-down variety of “Walker’s Low” that stands 16 inches tall.
- Catmint tends to grow wider than tall, so give it plenty of room.
- Even while catmint likes direct sunlight, it can also tolerate moderate afternoon shadow.
- Water new plants or transplants until they can survive on their own. Following that, established plants can withstand heat and drought.
- Never fertilize it again. Catmint prefers well-drained, somewhat fertile soil. In fact, a plant may flip over or split in half if the soil is excessively rich. In that case, trim the plant back to make it look neat. Compost added in the spring or fall will provide the plant the nutrients it needs to thrive.
- After the first blooming flush of the plants has finished, shear them back by a third or more. The plants will be more orderly, their size will be limited, and this will encourage a second rush of blossoms later in the summer. The plant will still bloom often and maintain its lovely appearance during the stifling summer months even without being sheared.
- Over the winter, keep any dead foliage in place to help protect the crown. Wait till the beginning of spring to trim it.
- Divide catmint every three to four years, preferably in the spring or early fall, to maintain it healthy. During the first growing season, until the plants take root, keep it well-watered.
- Catmint varieties can grow to be quite huge. Pinch the plant back in the spring after it has grown a few inches tall to encourage a bushier growth habit if you wish to limit the plant’s total size.
- Cut a vertical chunk off of an established clump of catmint in the spring to reproduce it. Make sure the division has a strong root system and a number of new shoots. Till the plant takes root, keep it well-watered.
- Cuttings can also be used to spread catmint. Before flower buds grow in the spring, clip healthy shoots at a length of three inches. The cuttings should be placed in a moist medium, such as sand or a peat-perlite mixture. Within two to three weeks, they should start to root.
- Catmint is typically unaffected by either pests or diseases. The only issue that can occasionally arise is leaf spot. There is no consensus that the severity of this fungus illness justifies control measures.
- As I have learned from experience, some cats are attracted to catmint. If you’re worried about this, cover newly planted or transplanted catmint with chicken wire to stop your cat from consuming it or rolling about in it.
- This plant attracts butterflies and bees like crazy. Additionally, hummingbirds adore it.
- You’ll adore this plant if your garden is plagued by four-legged animals other than cats. Deer, voles, and rabbits are deterred by the foliage’s minty aroma. THIS is a plant that pays for itself, at last!
Nepeta can it grow in partial shade?
- Nepeta x faassenii (Faassen’s catmint): This hybrid, with sterile flowers that don’t self-sow and don’t require deadheading, is by far the most widely cultivated variety employed for ornamental purposes.
- Nepeta subsessilis (Japanese catmint) is a wonderful choice for colder, wetter areas because, in contrast to other types, it prefers moist soil and some shade.
- Nepeta racemosa, also referred to as dwarf catmint: This species grows slowly and creates circular mounds that are as wide as the plants themselves. It is frequently used as a vibrant groundcover and grows between 12 and 18 inches tall.
Is catmint the same as catnip?
Compared to catmint, catnip (Nepeta cataria) has a stronger scent. Its ornamental attributes are lacking and it tends to be weedy and invasive. It is primarily useful in the garden for cooking or as an insect repellent for particular pests including mosquitoes, aphids, and squash bugs.
Spreads catmint quickly?
Plants that grow quickly called catmints. They start out in the spring by growing neat tiny piles of tidy new leaves. This spreads widely swiftly when plants start to form their flower buds. Walker’s Low is one of the cultivars that is grown the most frequently. But despite its name, this plant is in no way low-growing. These plants grow rapidly to their full size, which is around 3 feet tall by 3 feet broad. Many of the catmints grow leggy and flop open once their impressive flowering display is over. If this is the case, giving the plants a good cutback will quickly fix the problem. If you’re lucky, this will stimulate a second set of blossoms in addition to a wonderful new flush of growth.
Catmints’ hardiness and tolerance of poor soil conditions are two of their best qualities. Look no farther if you’ve previously struggled with growing anything in dense, dry clay. Catmint can take it and continue to flourish. But it’s crucial to remember that some plants do enjoy some sunshine. Although they can tolerate some shade, they are considerably more likely to flop open. It’s also crucial to keep in mind that many catmint species have a tendency to spread like weeds in gardens. If this worries you, opt for sterile types like “Walker’s Low” that won’t spread and create any further issues. Also recognized for withstanding hard winters is catmint.
Catnip can grow in the shade.
The mint family (Lamiaceae), which includes the robust and weedy perennial herb catnip, is hardy in zones 3-9. Nepeta cataria is one of numerous species that are referred to collectively as catmints, and it has been widely naturalized throughout temperate regions of the world. Most cats are drawn to the aromatic leaves of this plant, which are typically found in disturbed areas like roadside or field edges, along streams, or on waste ground, but many people are not fond of their pungent odor, which has been variously described as a combination of thyme and oregano to “mildly pungent.
Catnip has a rangy habit and upright, branching branches with green to gray-green foliage. It shares with other members of the mint family the distinctive square stems and opposing leaves with 1-inch petioles. Fine hairs are seen on the petioles and stems of the light green plants. The up to 3 inch long triangular to ovate leaves have crenate margins, which are rough teeth, and are cordate at the base. Fine hairs cover both the upper and bottom surfaces, and the upper side clearly reveals a reticulated network of veins. In the winter, plants wither to the ground, and in the early spring, new stems appear. Under ideal circumstances, plants can reach heights and widths of up to 3 feet, and they can also establish colonies from their short rhizomes.
Anytime from late spring through fall, plants can flower, and they will bloom for one to two months. On spike-like terminal racemes, the tiny blooms (about 1/3 inch long) are carried in tightly clustered whorls. The characteristic of the mint family, individual bilabiate (two-lipped) flowers are white with light purple or pink spots on the lower lip. The lower lip has three lobes, including a bigger middle lobe with a frilly outer edge, compared to the little upper lip’s two lobes. Numerous various sorts of butterflies, wasps, flies, and bees of all kinds visit the nectar-rich blooms. After the initial flowering, shearing encourages subsequent blooming.
Seed capsules that each contain four smooth, ovoid nutlets stand in for the flowers. Goldfinches and other seed-eating birds might visit the plants if they aren’t deadheaded. Although this plant easily reproduces and can be an annoyance in some places, it is not typically regarded as an invasive species in Wisconsin. After flowering, cut the plants all the way down to prevent them from reseeding.
Catnip is typically planted for house cats because it is not very well known for its ornamental features. It is also occasionally produced to attract butterflies. Nepeta x faassenii or Nepeta racemosa, which have showier flowers and better behavior (though less alluring leaves for cats), make much better ornamentals, but N. cateria could be combined with other perennials in the border in the same way that the other catmints can “included in a herb garden, or a cat-friendly yard. Containers may also be used to grow it. Regular pruning will make the plant more compact and less weedy looking.
Although catnip does well in poor soils and some shade, it grows best in full sun and medium, well-drained soil. The amount of soil fertility and moisture have a big impact on plant size. Once it has grown, this plant can withstand droughts to some extent. If cultivated as an ornamental, pinching will aid in the development of a more dense, well-shaped plant as the plants shoot up in the spring. Deer do not favor it, although stray cats may cause damage to it (mainly breaking the stems when rolling on the plant). Others advise keeping the plant in a hanging basket to keep it out of reach, while someone advised covering it with an elegant bird cage to keep cats away. It is easily multiplied by division of mature plants or seed that is introduced indoors a few weeks before the final frost. University of Wisconsin-Madison student Susan Mahr
Why isn’t my catmint gaining height?
One of my favorite plants is nepeta, sometimes called catmint. Of course, cats are particularly fond of catnip, one of its constituents. Consider the old proverb “If you set it, the cats will eat it” if you’re having difficulties keeping your catnip or catmint plants alive in the garden. The cats are unaware that you sow it. Cats appear to ignore catnip seeds but adore transplants. But enough about Felix—discuss let’s catmint’s lovely qualities instead!
Catmint is robust, simple to grow, and resistant to deer and rabbits. Early in the summer, the flowers with hues of white, pink, or lavender blue emerge from the grey-green foliage. After blossoming, if you cut it back, it will produce more blooms later in the summer. The floppy, untamed habit of the 2-foot-tall plant is possible. As a result, it thrives when spilling over a wall, sprawling beneath a rose, or stepping in between other perennials that have received better care. Some more recent types, such “Cats’ Meow” and “Purrsian Blue,” only reach heights of 12 to 18 inches, maintain a more upright posture, and produce sterile seeds, making them less prone to spread like weeds in your garden.
Grow Catmint
Neglect is ideal for catmint. A lot of lengthy, frail foliage with few flowers is the result of adding too much water, compost, or fertilizer. You can divide the plants in early spring to make more catmints, but it isn’t necessary. It will cheerfully bloom every year and gradually get bigger over time.
Which plants complement catmint well?
There are numerous different plant combinations that are effective with catmint. Consider growing verbena, agastache, lavender, and tufted hairgrass alongside catmint as companion plants.
Plant catmint in a dramatic border with irises and Siberian spurge, or add a splash of color with yarrow to the previously stated rose and catmint combination. For long-lasting blossoms and minimal upkeep, combine yarrow, catmint, agastache, and foxtail lilies.
With catmint, allium, phlox, and white flower lace, spring irises go perfectly. Combine catmint with perennial grasses for a different texture. Sneezeweed, catmint, and dahlias all produce magnificent flowers that endure far into the early fall.
Catmint enhances the beauty of coneflower, daylily, and black-eyed susan.
With catmint, the planting combinations are virtually endless. Just keep in mind to group similar plants together. Those that are tolerant of your region and appreciate comparable conditions to catmint, including full sun, average garden soil, and little to no water.
Does catnip like shade or the sun?
Catnip Seeds to Plant:
Before planting, soak catnip seeds in water for an entire night. Then scatter seed in flats or cell packs, press it into the ground, and softly cover. Germination takes place gradually over a period of 14–40 days when kept at 60F. Catnip seeds may be directly sown into ready seed beds when a light frost is still feasible. Plant catnip seeds 12 to 18 inches apart.
Plant catnip:
sun or partial shade Catnip is drought resilient, but it looks best in well-drained soil with normal rainfall. Plants are resistant to deer and rabbits, repel aphids, and draw beneficial insects like lacewings. Bees and butterflies, especially skippers, are drawn to flowers. After blooming, cut plants back by half.
Dried catnip should be placed in sachets or cat pillows. Catnip has no effect on up to of cats. Put an upside-down wire basket over the tops of the plants to protect the crowns (from cats, if necessary). Wire is invisible and easily through by stems and leaves. Fresh catnip leaves are cut in the kitchen and used to salads, soups, and sauces to give them a minty flavor.
Catmint vs. Catnip
Which is better, catnip or catmint? Plant common names can be confusing, especially when they sound so similar. Nepeta cataria, a widespread member of the mint family with white flowers that can be found all over the United States, particularly in disturbed areas, is known as catnip. These low-growing plants are a favorite among cats, and dried leaf cat toys are known to drive cats crazy.
On the other hand, catmint, another member of the mint family, is a stunning decorative plant that is hardy and flexible but is not as well-liked by domestic cats.
Walker’s Low Catmint: Nearly Perfect
Nepeta faassenii, often known as Walker’s Low catmint, has long served as the benchmark catmint in western gardens. In May, mounds of glistening periwinkle blue flowers begin to open, continuing for one to two months.
The blooms are a haven for hummingbirds, moths, butterflies, and bees, but deer and rabbits appear to avoid them. Catmints are nearly ideal plants since they can withstand drought, bloom for a long time, and withstand our harsh weather.
That is, almost flawless, barring two aspects. The weight of the blooms eventually causes the stalks to drop, opening and flattening the plant’s core, which causes all catmints to flop out a little after blooming.
The majority of catmints found at garden centers are fertile, which means that after blooming and receiving pollinator fertilization, they set viable seeds that disperse throughout the garden and result in an abundance of seedlings growing. Free seedlings are occasionally appreciated (especially those of such a lovely plant), but they are frequently an annoyance.
One more warning: Walker’s Low isn’t actually that “low.” Walker’s Low has a height range of 24 to 30 inches, which is quite low compared to Six Hills Giant, the previous benchmark for garden catmints, which reaches a height of 3 feet. Walker’s Low is actually not as low as its name suggests considering how little it is!
Little Trudy: Compact and Not a Spreader
Try Little Trudy catmint if you want a catmint with a neater appearance, one that stays compact and is more suited for small gardens, or one that won’t seed itself.
Before being released by Plant Select in 2008, Little Trudy was found at Little Valley Wholesale Nursery in Brighton, Colorado, and tested at Colorado State University and the Denver Botanic Gardens. It begins to bloom in the late spring and will continue to softly blossom all summer long. When crushed, the tiny, grey-green leaves release a pleasant scent.
Wildlife benefits: Pollinators such as moths, bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are drawn to stalks of small, purple-blue blooms.
Growing advice: If desired, prune back the first heavy flush of blooms; a second full flush will occur later in the summer.