Common Name: Catnip and Catmint
This choice shares an improved neat habit with “Cat’s Meow,” although being a little bit smaller and more compact in size overall. ‘Purrsian Blue’ develops a compact, flawlessly spherical, thickly branching clump of tiny, green leaves in its first year. The plant keeps its small mounding habit in year two, but nearly doubles its spread to just over two feet.
This is a particularly floriferous variety whose bloom power is enhanced by the close proximity of its blossoms on the stems. From early summer to early fall, periwinkle blue flowers are protected by dark purple calyxes that grow just above the fragrant foliage.
The modern gardener’s dream perennial, “Purrisan Blue,” is drought tolerant, deer resistant, long blooming, and attractive all year round.
Nepeta is commonly known as Catmint because when its stems are broken, an aroma that tends to draw cats is released into the air.
Describe Purrsian blue catmint.
Contrary to typical catmint, Purrsian Blue Catmint (Nepeta faassenii) is an enhanced type that is neat, compact, rounded, and flush with blue blossoms. You won’t have to worry about running out of color in the front border because it starts blooming in early summer and continues until early fall. The drought-tolerant, sun-loving Nepeta faassenii is ideal for the rock garden as well. Purrsian Blue Catmint approximately doubles in size by the second year, spreading to almost 2′ across, but its height stays short and neat. Its profusion of blossoms is striking and complements a wide range of hues, including dark red-purples, pinks, yellows, and greens. Hummingbirds, bees, and cats are drawn to Purrsian Blue Catmint. Nepeta faassenii exudes a scent that cats find alluring when the stems break, giving the plant its common name of “catmint.” Deer and rabbits, on the other hand, typically ignore it. PP24788 Nepeta faassenii “Purrsian Blue”
A perennial, is Nepeta Purrsian Blue?
The ideal cultivar for people looking for a neater, more compact catmint is Nepeta ‘Purrsian Blue’. ‘Purrsian Blue’ was chosen in part due to its appealing plant habit and high level of floriferousness. This cultivar, developed by Walters Gardens Inc., has a lot of potential.
‘Purrsian Blue’ has scented, silver-green foliage that matures into lovely, naturally rounded clumps that are 18 to 30 inches across and 14 to 18 inches high. Late April is when it starts to bloom, and it keeps flowering all summer long until the first October frosts. An abundance of periwinkle blue blooms with dark purple calyxes are produced by this floriferous variety.
In Zones 3 to 8, nepeta are frequently employed in sunny landscapes with ordinary to slightly dry soils. They should be planted in afternoon shade in the deep South because they are only moderately resistant of the heat and humidity there.
The low-maintenance, simple-to-grow perennial ‘Purrsian Blue’ is ideal for today’s landscapes. While its spiciness repels rabbits and deer, hummingbirds, honeybees, butterflies, and other pollinators are lured to its sweet nectar.
Propogation
It is not permitted to propagate Nepeta ‘Purrsian Blue’ without a license. Instead, approved propagators must vegetatively spread the plant using tip cuttings.
Licensed propagators root tip cuttings by placing them straight into a growing medium that has been stabilized or pre-moistened and well-drained. Catmint propagates successfully without the need for rooting agents and rapidly takes root. For the first two to three days of proliferation, place the cuttings under a mild misting routine. Reduce the daily mist delivery after the first few days to maintain light misting for the following few days. It is ideal to grow them in environments with low misting and high humidity (90 percent relative humidity).
Beginning seven days after adhering the cuttings, it’s ideal to start feeding with 100- to 150-ppm nitrogen using a complete water-soluble fertilizer twice a week. Once a sufficient number of roots are present and the cuttings can remain turgid all day, the mist can typically be completely removed 12 to 16 days after sticking. They typically take three to four weeks to become well-rooted when soil temperatures are kept between 68 and 74o F.
Production
Purrsian Blue can be produced successfully in one-gallon or smaller containers. They prefer to be cultivated in a growing medium with a pH range of 6.0 to 6.6 and good drainage. Numerous growth mixtures will work, but stay away from those with a high water-holding capacity. When transplanting, place a single liner in the middle of the pot, making sure that the liner’s soil line is level with the growing media of the container it is being placed in.
Light to moderate fertility requirements apply to catmint. Apply 100- to 125-ppm nitrogen plus micronutrients with each irrigation or 250 ppm as necessary when using water-soluble fertilizers to supply nutrients. They may elongate, take on a lush appearance, and delay flowering if fertilized excessively. When added to the growth medium prior to planting at a rate equating to 0.9 to 1.1 pounds of elemental nitrogen per cubic yard of growing mix or when applied as a top-dress onto the media surface at the medium labeled rate, controlled-release fertilizers can also efficiently distribute nutrients.
Nepeta can be grown with standard irrigation techniques. During production, the plants should be kept moist but not constantly damp or saturated. When kept overly wet, they will become taller and more susceptible to the infections that cause root rot. When irrigation is required, fully water the plants and then wait a short while before watering again.
‘Purrsian Blue’s’ compact growth habit means that height management techniques are typically not needed. When plants are adequately spaced apart, grown in high light conditions, and given the right amount of nutrients and moisture, undesirable stem elongation may frequently be controlled.
Spray applications of 30-ppm paclobutrazol (Bonzi, Paczol, or Piccolo), 5-ppm uniconazole (Concise, or Sumagic), or a tank mixture of 2,500-ppm daminozide (B-Nine, or Dazide), plus 3-ppm uniconazole, should be used if the plants need to be toned. One or two applications should usually be sufficient.
Pests and Diseases
Nepeta can be grown largely pest- and disease-free. Aphids, leafhoppers, slugs, snails, spider mites, and whiteflies occasionally arrive but only slightly harm crops. When they are grown in persistently damp growing conditions, crown and root rots may form. Other ailments to watch out for are Southern Blight, Powdery Mildew, Botrytis, and Bacterial Leaf Spot (Pseudomonas) (Sclerotium).
Regular scouting will enable early detection of these pests and illnesses and may be helpful in determining whether and when control measures are required.
Temperatue and Scheduling
It is simple to grow “Purrsian Blue” plants that bloom all year round. Although they don’t need to be vernalized in order to flower, giving them a cold treatment will help them flower more evenly and a little bit quicker. When vernalizing nepeta liners or containers, give them six to nine weeks of cold weather (less than 40 F). They are long-day plants, and in order for the flowers to thrive, the days must be lengthy. When the length of the day is naturally short (less than 14 hours), extended days can be created using artificial lights (night interruption or day extension). They take around eight weeks to reach flowering stage when grown at 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
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.
Does catmint draw felines?
Nepeta cataria, a plant native to Europe and a close relative of the mints, produces catnip (spearmint, peppermint, pennyroyal, etc). The plant or dried herb attracts a lot of cats, and the smell might cause odd behavior patterns. Licking, chewing, head shaking, chin and cheek stroking, rolling, and salivation are a few of these actions. The herb only has an effect on roughly two-thirds of domestic cats. Other cat species, such as lions, leopards, and jaguars, are also impacted. A common folk treatment for fevers, colds, cramps, and headaches is catnip.
Catnip offers therapeutic benefits for both humans and cats, in addition to having insecticidal characteristics. Nepetalactone is the substance in catnip that is active (a component of essential oil extracted from catnip). Nepatalactone is an insect repellent that was developed by Iowa State University researchers in the early 2000s for use against cockroaches, mosquitoes, mites, ticks, spiders, termites, and other pests. Since then, it hasn’t been included in insect repellents that are sold commercially.
Additionally promising for crop protection is catnip oil. In a study, collard greens intercropped with catnip (placed in alternate rows) decreased the prevalence of flea beetles, an insect that is extremely harmful to collards. It has also been demonstrated that catnip extracts can repel harmful insects and the adult and larval stages of the Colorado potato beetle. Caterpillars, moths, and butterflies cannot be harmed by catnip extracts.
Catnip is comparatively simple to cultivate, accepts a wide range of soil types, and if not controlled, has the potential to spread beyond your garden. There are numerous seed firms that sell seed. Since the seed is so tiny, it can be directly sown on garden soil that has been thoroughly prepared and covered with 1/8″ of dirt. As an alternative, it can be planted in a flat after it has five sets of leaves. If you have cats, you might need to keep them away from it until it is established and mature. Once planted, each plant should endure for a number of years. Cutting the root mass in half and replanting allows you to divide established plants. Grow the plants where they have enough room because they can grow rather huge (3 feet tall).
Prior to blossoming, trim stems to gather catnip (early to mid summer). Leaves should be taken off of stems. In a well-ventilated place away from direct sunshine, spread the leaves out on a screen or tray. To provide aeration, turn the leaves once per day. It ought to be dry enough to crumble into flakes after two to three weeks. Put dried flakes in a container with a tight lid or a plastic bag that can be sealed. A few catnip plants will give you a year-round supply if you adore cats.
While similar to catnip in appearance, catmint (Nepeta x faassenii) does not energize cats. It is a mounded shrub with lovely gray-green foliage that grows slowly. Early summer and again throughout the monsoon season are when its abundant blue flowers bloom. Once planted, it is tolerant to both heat and drought. It can self-seed and grow (almost to the point of becoming weedy). These hardy perennials can withstand USDA zone 4 conditions and do well in mountain gardens. The majority of herbivores, including deer, are not drawn to catmint. The majority of gardeners think it makes a fine perennial border plant.
Bees and other beneficial insects are attracted to catnip and catmint. Catnip typically only blooms once per season, but when it does, bees and other nectar-feeding insects are drawn to it. I saw solitary bees feasting on nectar in the early summer, honeybees utilizing it in the middle to late summer, and bee flies and hawk moths using it in the late summer due to catmint’s prolonged bloom time. I cultivate both catmint and catnip. Cats use the catnip that has been gathered. All summer long, the catmint offers beneficial insects both beauty and sustenance. Photos and links to more information are provided below.