Nepeta, sometimes known as Walker’s Low catmint, is a perennial plant with a mounding and non-invasive growth habit. It can grow up to 30–36 inches wide and tall and is hardy in zones 3–8. Compared to a conventional mint plant, the leaves are more silvery in color.
I cultivate the indigo flowering variation of Walker’s Low catmint. I raise it to create a walkway border. Nepeta will return year after year with simple maintenance because it is a perennial plant.
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.
Are catmint plants contagious?
This perennial flower that thrives in cool climates often features blue trumpet-shaped flower clusters and grey-green leaves with a distinctive mint scent. Even though it’s frequently called catnip, cats don’t find it to be as alluring as the real stuff. However, I’ve seen that if given the chance, our cat will indulge herself. Although the plant can reach a height of 3 feet, it frequently sprawls, creating a grey-green ground cover. In the late spring and early summer, it blooms profusely. In hot temperatures in the middle of the summer, it frequently temporarily stops flowering before starting up again in the early fall, especially if the plant is vigorously trimmed down. Catmint blooms are beloved by butterflies, hummingbirds, and other useful insects.
In our location, catmint is resilient, though certain types may require winter protection in colder climates. Despite the fact that it may be grown from seed, it is considerably simpler to buy plants from a nearby nursery or get divisions from a friend’s garden in the early spring when it first begins to grow. From early spring through early fall, sow. It is simple to divide catmint. Catmint should be planted in full or partial sun in humus-rich, compost-added soil that is well-drained. Plant where it will receive afternoon shade if you’re growing in one of our region’s warmer areas. In the garden, space plants 1 to 2 feet apart.
Water newly planted plants well. They may be resistant of drought once they have grown. To help keep weeds at bay and the soil continuously moist, mulch with bark and spread compost around the base of plants in the spring.
If you aggressively deadhead flowers and prune the plant back by two-thirds after each flush of blooms, you may keep catmint in practically constant bloom from late spring until fall. After a few years, springtime division of the plant will encourage renewed development and result in the production of more plants for friends and other plantings. Catmint doesn’t self-sow because it has few pests and sterile seeds.
The traditional cottage garden plant catmint frequently grows with peonies, roses, coreopsis, and delphiniums. It’s a fantastic filler plant to add color and green foliage between later blooming flowers because of its spreading tendency. It thrives when planted in rock gardens next to walls so that it can cascade over them. It can look a little rangy, so it’s not the best option for more formal settings.
With blue-violet flowers and a neater appearance than other types since it doesn’t spread as much, Walker’s Low is a more recent variation.
White Wonder and “Snowflake” are rare white blooming plants that only reach a height of one foot.
The enormous plant and bright blue flowers of Six Hills Giant are well recognized.
Dark blue flowers on 1 to 2 foot tall stems are produced by Blue Wonder.
How far apart should Walkers Low catmint be planted?
The Walker’s Low Catmint can reach heights of 24–30 inches. Yes, it does grow straight. It ought to be separated by 16 to 18 inches.
Is cat mint a problem?
They believed it would entice cats to prey on rodents hiding about the farm or house. However, current research suggests that catmint may not just be discovered around the foundations of historic European homes and barns. According to a recent USDA study, termites are unlikely to dig tunnels through soil where catmint flourishes. Naturally, a moat made of this plant would prevent these pests from penetrating the wood of a hut or cottage.
Termites, mosquitoes, and cockroaches are all repelled by the same chemical that draws cats. Nepeta cataria, also referred to as common catnip, is a plant that contains it. Nepetalactone, a terpene found in these herbs, has been shown to be several times more effective at repelling insects than harmful DEET. To influence a cat, the plants release oils that must be breathed rather than consumed. This explains why cats are so prone to rolling around in catmint plants. More volatile oils are released from the leaves when it is bruised. Cats can detect airborne odors down to one part per billion.
Not all felines react the same way to these herbs. In fact, roughly 30% of household cats might not even respond to catmint. It’s a hereditary reaction that can vary in intensity from person to person and is inherited. Strangely, until they are at least 3 months old, extremely young kittens rarely react to nepetalactone.
There are a dizzying variety of plants in the genus Nepeta. The large invasive plant known as real catmint is described above. It grows to a height of three feet and bears few white blooms. It usually only appears in herb gardens and has very nothing to recommend it in terms of aesthetics. Due to its hardiness up to Zone 3, it is a fantastic choice for gardens in the north.
Through natural cross-pollination and human breeding, numerous species have been introduced into gardens over time and transformed into new varieties. The outcome is a wide variety of garden-worthy catmints that are much better prospects for your yard than the usual kind. Keep in mind that these immigrants won’t be as resistant to the cold as the species is. The majority, but not all, are sterile, preventing plants from spreading outward in the absence of viable seed. Simply deadhead the flowers after they are spent to stop seed formation in order to completely avoid self sowing.
The Six Hills Giant, which stands 3 feet tall, is the most impressive version. Late in the summer, foot-long spikes of dark violet blooms appear on lush, spherical plants. It is generally accessible and a superb option for novice growers.
Nepeta racemosa “Walker’s Low,” which has a shorter size, is an excellent edging plant. A gentle carpet of blue fills up the front of a border. It only grows to a height of 18 inches but produces dense clusters of vividly blue flower spikes. Walkers Low and Six Hills are resilient to Zone 5.
Catmints typically grow best in sandy, well-drained soils, although they will grow almost anywhere that isn’t moist. Late in the growing season, they can become rangy, and regular trimming is beneficial to prevent the taller forms from flopping in the rain.
Today, catmint merits another look as a natural pest deterrent for eco-friendly dwellings. wherever there is a chance of infestation, plant. Kittie won’t overdose, though, as cats all seem to have a sense of proportion.
How can I keep the catmint tidy?
Nepeta cataria, often known as catnip, needs to be pruned regularly to maintain a more compact shape and extend its blooming period. It will grow to a height of 2 to 3 feet and a width of 2 to 3 feet best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 to 7, according to Missouri Botanical Garden. If let to grow unchecked, its loose, spreading growth behavior can resemble a weed. Catmint’s appearance and blooming can be enhanced by deadheading and shearing, but only if done at the proper time of year.
How quickly will catmint expand?
Nepata, sometimes known as catmint, is a magnificent plant for perennial gardens or mixed beds. It swiftly disperses and can withstand heat, drought, and poor soil. In fact, before long you’ll probably be lending it to others.
Catmint is a relative of catnip but is more flamboyant. It is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 7. When a plant reaches maturity, it develops a rounded, bushy shape with hundreds of tall, lovely stalks. Small, pinnate, gray-green leaves that resemble mint leaves grow on the stalks. Early summer brings on a flood of blooms from the plants, and if you prune them back, they will bloom once again. The most typical color is bluish-purple, however certain variants also exist in pink, white, and even yellow.
Catmint will draw the neighborhood cats, just like catnip does. The plant’s constituents have a slight hallucinogenic or sleepy effect on cats. Even if you don’t have a cat of your own, the plant may have flattened spots where cats have rolled around. Spread a sheet of bird netting over the plants to prevent this frolicking. Catmint not only draws cats, but also bees, moths, and butterflies. The plants are alive with bumblebee and honeybee activity when they are in full bloom. Catmint shouldn’t be grown close to entrances or play areas due to this.
Depending on the kind, catmint can grow to be 12 inches tall or 36 inches tall. Give it plenty of room and divide it every three to four years because it can spread up to three feet in one season. Over the winter, it typically dies back to the ground.
Planting Catmint
Catmint can be grown from seed, divisions from a buddy, or nursery transplants. After the last anticipated frost, sow the seeds outside or start them indoors four to six weeks prior to planting. The most dependable approach to grow this plant is by divisions or transplants because some types are infertile and hybrids may not grow true to seed. Except in regions with extremely hot and dry weather, where it may tolerate some afternoon shadow, catmint blooms best in full sun. It is not necessary for the soil to be especially rich, but it must have good drainage. Prior to planting, incorporate some manure and compost into the soil.
Depending on how big they will be when mature, place the plants 12 to 24 inches apart. For the first four weeks following planting, water the plants often. The plants are drought-tolerant once they are established, but they thrive when watered once a week.
Before new growth appears, fertilize catmints in the spring by spreading 1/4 cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer around the base of the plant. After the first bloom, trim the plants back by at least one-third. If they get out of control over the summer, you can trim them again, but wait until late August to do so.
Catmint Problems and Pests
Catmint shouldn’t cause you any issues as long as the soil drains correctly. But in wet soils, root rot is widespread. In humid, warm environments, catmint can spread. To tame it, give it lots of room and divide it periodically.
Catmint Varieties
The most widely cultivated variety is Faassen’s catmint (Nepeta X faassenii). The height of this plant varies from 12 inches to 24 inches. Because it is sterile, Faassen’s catmint won’t self-sow like other species. Among the varieties are “Kit Kat,” which reaches a height of 2 feet and blooms for a long time, “White Wonder,” which, as its name suggests, has white flowers, and “Six Hills Giant,” which reaches a height of 4 feet and has spikes of 12 inch purple blooms.
Cold-tolerant Siberian catmint (Nepeta sibirica) can reach heights of two to three feet. Compared to Faassen’s catmint, this plant has bigger leaves and bluish-purple blooms.
If your soil is damp, Japanese catmint (Nepeta subsessilis) is the plant for you. On 2 foot tall stalks, it produces lavender to pink blossoms.
The Himalayan native yellow catmint (Nepeta govaniana) flowers in the middle to end of July. If you can’t get it locally, look in garden catalogs and internet resources.
How far apart should catmint be planted?
Plants should be 18 inches apart. During the first season, provide one inch of water every week. Established plants can withstand drought. To enhance drainage and control soil temperature, mulch the area around the base.
How large can catmint grow?
This lovely dwarf cultivar, which comes brimming with royal blue flowers from late spring to early fall, is the ideal height for edging flower beds and walks or for use as a long-blooming groundcover. the Missouri Botanical Garden chose it as a Plant of Merit because of its exceptional quality and dependability.
Height/Spread:
From late April until the first frost, a stunning display of periwinkle blue flowers encased in dark purple calyces is produced. The second season after planting, will almost double in breadth (to over 2 feet across), swiftly filling in the gaps in your garden.
This cultivar is one of the largest and unquestionably one of the showiest, reaching heights of up to 3 feet and a width of 4 feet. In the middle or back of sunny garden beds, profusions of fragrant two-lipped lavender-blue flowers rise above the heavy gray-green foliage beginning in late spring.
This variety, which offers a contrast to the usual blue and lavender hues, is covered in softly perfumed snow white blossoms from late spring to early fall. forms a tidy, low-growing mound that is ideal for edging a pathway or the front of a border. It also appears stunning when combined with its purple-hued companions.
In typical, well-drained soils with full sun to part shade, this genuine catnip is easily grown. Although catnip can withstand severe droughts, it does like some afternoon shade in hotter southern regions. From late spring through summer, clusters of white blooms with purple spots appear at the ends of stems. Housecats adore its leaves, which have been used for many years as a therapeutic herb. Aphids and squash bugs are just two of the many garden pests that catnip deters. See more details on where this species is thought to be invasive to see how it can become out of control in some locations.