- 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.
How far apart should catmint plants be placed?
How to grow: In warmer climates, catmint prefers some afternoon shade and blooms best in full sun to partial shade. Follow these instructions and, depending on the variety, position plants 1 to 3 feet apart.
- Dig a hole that is slightly broader and deeper than the root ball after loosening the dirt in the planting location.
- If the catmint plant’s roots are potbound, remove it from the nursery pot and tease them out.
- With the base level with the soil, place the plant in the hole.
- To get rid of air pockets, backfill the hole with soil and lightly tamp it down. Water wisely.
Catmint thrives in a variety of soil conditions, including rocky and clay soil. To avoid root rot, plants will thrive in well-draining soil. Utilize an excellent all-purpose potting mix for your containers.
Watering: During the first growing season, give your plants frequent water. Once the root system is developed, catmint is drought resistant and requires little to no additional water. Use water as needed during periods of intense heat or extended aridity.
Catmint grows best with little to no additional fertilizer. Apply a thin layer of compost mulch all around the base of new plants. Fewer flowers or plants may flop as a result of over fertilization.
Pruning: Some catmint cultivars may grow lanky or flop open in the middle. Shear plants as necessary after the first flowering to promote a bushier habit and later rebloom in the growing season.
Nepeta spreads, right?
Nepeta comes in several hundred different species, in addition to numerous other selections (cultivars) that have been chosen for better garden performance. However, I advise using caution when getting catmint plants for your yard. I strongly advise staying away from any Nepeta that is grown from seed, and only planting sterile hybrids. The catmints that are generated from seeds can spread quickly over the garden and smother nearby plants.
Over the years, I’ve experimented with a variety of Nepeta species and varieties in my gardens. And based on my personal experiences, I can heartily suggest two exceptional, sterile (produces no seeds), long-blooming kinds.
- Select Blue Nepeta is a low-growing, non-spreading plant with lovely lavender-blue flowers that I chose back in the early 1990s from a patch of plants I discovered in an office park landscape. Shear off the flower spikes just above the leaves in the early summer after the first flush of flowers has gone to encourage the plants to blossom later in the season.
- Walker’s Low Nepeta: This cultivar, which was not given its name for its size but rather after an English castle, features eye-catching deep blue flowers on tall flower spikes. ‘Walker’s Low’ blooms for several months from late spring to mid-summer and develops as a tidy, non-suckering, well-behaved plant. Stronger reblooming will result with deadheading, which involves shearing off the faded flower spikes just above the foliage.
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.
How quickly does Nepeta expand?
In the fall or very early spring, sow seeds outside. Better stands result from planting in the fall. Under ideal circumstances, seeds germinate in five to ten days, but in colder soil, this time can increase to twenty days. Thin the plants to 18 inches apart when they are 2 to 5 inches tall. After 12 to 15 weeks, you can start picking leaves. If cats frequently visit your garden, use wire netting to protect young plants.
How to plant nepeta
Nepeta can be planted beginning in October and continuing through May or June as long as you leave 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm) between each plant.
- Although it can tolerate little shade, nepeta prefers full sun.
- It enjoys well-drained soil of any quality.
- Nepeta has the finest flavor when it is grown in direct sunlight.
How can catmint become more bushesy?
Basic catmint maintenance is simple. Catmint plants need constant watering until they get established. Mulch will aid in moisture retention and control weed growth. Pinch back plants after they reach a height of a few inches (8 cm) to encourage bushier growth.
Throughout the summer and fall, catmint blooms. Deadheading faded blossoms encourages new blossoming. It may also assist in avoiding reseeding. However, Nepeta x faassenii, often known as Faassen’s catmint, does not require deadheading because it is sterile. In the fall or after harvest, shear the plants back to half their original size.
What plants thrive with nepeta?
Try combining Nepeta “Walker’s Low” with Achillea millefolium, Callirhoe involucrata, Coreopsis verticillata “Moonbeam,” Panicum virgatum “Prairie Sky,” Solidago nemoralis, or Schizachyrium scoparium “Standing Ovation.” COMPANION & UNDERSTUDY PLANTS
What complements nepeta?
Sneezeweed, catmint, and dahlias all produce magnificent flowers that endure far into the early fall.
The blue catmint blossoms go perfectly with other perennials with the same growing conditions, like:
- Sage of Europe/Southernwood
- Salvia.
- The beard of Jupiter
- Yarrow.
- Pig’s Ear.
- Winecups and Poppy Mallow.
invasive Nepeta catmint?
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.
Does Nepeta return each year?
Nepeta is a dependable perennial that grows regularly year after year. It is extremely hardy and tolerant of all environmental factors. When the growing circumstances are unsuitable for lavender, catmint can be used as a viable substitute, creating clouds of light blue and mauve in a garden. Nepeta is beneficial for growing in more challenging sections of the garden since it tolerates a wide range of growth circumstances, such as partial shade, dry weather, and drought zones.
While Lavender cannot survive in wetter conditions, Catmint can withstand them; Lavender needs considerably drier conditions, especially in the winter. As a Mediterranean plant, lavender will struggle on heavier, wetter ground. In contrast to catmint, which can grow practically everywhere, it needs to be dry, in well-drained soil, and in the sun. Nepeta is less picky about where it grows because it is native to many different settings. Catmint can thrive in full or partial sunlight, as well as in damp or dry soil. It can practically be grown everywhere and is incredibly tough. It will only not tolerate really soggy terrain. It has a long flowering period and occasionally produces a second flush of flowers if you cut it down.
Nepeta is quite simple to establish once it is planted. The added benefit is that pollinators and bees find it incredibly alluring. On a warm day, a clump will be buzzing with the sound of bees as you pass it. It is a plant that grows well in practically any environment and doesn’t require feeding, which can cause it to become lanky. As its name implies, it is appealing to creatures other than bees. Insert a few sticks to prevent cats from rolling on your Nepeta if you don’t like cats and don’t want that to happen. The sticks will blend in with the plant growth and will be undetectable to cats. If you enjoy cats, you might just want to stand by and observe how crazy they become when they see cat mint, running after it and rolling around.