- Plant in soil that drains well and has a pH of 5.0 to 7.5.
- To improve vigor, add an inch of compost to the soil.
- 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.
‘Blue Wonder’ Catmint
At 12 to 15 inches tall, Nepeta x racemosa ‘Blue Wonder’ is small. Grayish-green, neatly wavy leaves highlight the 6-inch terminal spikes of two-lipped dark blue blooms. (Zones 5-9.)
‘Little Titch’ Catmint
The charming dwarf plant Nepeta racemosa ‘Little Titch’ grows into a compact mound with green foliage and blue blooms. It makes an excellent border or edging plant because it only grows 8 to 10 inches tall and spreads up to 12 inches broad. From late spring to fall, it virtually always flowers. (Zones 4-8.)
Faassen’s Catmint
Strong perennial nepetafaassenii thrives in hot, dry conditions. A burst of blue flowers is accompanied by mounding sprays of silvery-green leaves on the plants. After the first flush of bloom, deadhead or prune back to promote additional blossoms. It can reach a height of 1-2 feet and a width of up to 2 feet. (Zones 4-9.)
Japanese Catmint
Of all catmints, Nepetasubsessilis bears the largest bloom clusters. Plants that reach a height of 4 feet tall may produce bloom spikes that are 8 inches long and 3 inches wide. Robust stems prevent the plant from needing to be staked or sheared to preserve its strong upright habit. It blooms for a lengthy period of time, just as other catmints. (Zones 4-8.)
Persian Catmint
Nepeta mussinii is a low-growing species with a spread of up to 18 inches, remaining under a foot tall. It’s the first catmint to start blooming in the spring, and although it slows down during the sweltering summer, it practically never stops until the first harsh freezes of the fall. If not frequently deadheaded, this species can easily self-seed in the garden and turn weedy. Persian catmint has exceptional cold tolerance. (Zones 3-9.)
‘Six Hills Giant’ Catmint
Sometimes Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’ is mistakenly labeled as a Nepetafaassenii variety. With the exception of size, it is almost identical to that species; it can reach heights of 3 feet and widths of 30 inches. It can flop open in midsummer, but if you cut it back after the first flush of bloom, it will reliably rebloom and maintain a uniform mounded habit. (Zones 4-9.)
‘Walker’s Low’ Catmint
The exceptional hybrid nepeta “Walker’s Low” blooms for a very long time and is very simple to grow. Despite having “low” in its name, this variety can grow up to 30 inches tall and wide; it is not a dwarf type. (Zones 4-9.)
How is catmint distributed?
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 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.
Catmint: is it an invasive species?
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.
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.