Catmint Varieties
- Nepeta x faassenii 'Six Hills Giant’ is one of the tallest-growing cultivars, It has lavender-blue flowers and grows up to 36 inches tall and 30 inches wide, so be sure ...
- Nepeta subsessilis ‘Sweet Dreams' features pink flowers with burgundy bracts. ...
- Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’ has lavender-blue flowers with eight-inch spikes. ...
How big do Little Titch catmint plants get?
'Little Titch' Catmint. Nepeta racemosa 'Little Titch' is a lovely dwarf plant forming a compact mound of green foliage with blue flowers. It grows just 8-10 inches tall and spreads up to 12 inches wide, making a great border or edging plant. It blooms almost constantly from late spring through fall.
When do catmint plants bloom?
New catmint varieties are being introduced regularly, so the best thing to do is to shop around and read the plant description before you buy. Expect your Nepeta to start blooming in early summer with repeat blooms throughout the growing season. Deadheading or shearing your plants will give you stockier plants and a lush second bloom.
How big does Nepeta catmint get?
Catmint Plant Profile Botanical Name Nepeta spp. Common Name Catmint Plant Type Perennial Mature Size 10 to 24 inches tall, 1 to 2 feet wide Sun Exposure Full sun to part shade 7 more rows ...
How tall do Walker's low catmints grow?
One of the most common varieties grown is called 'Walker's Low.' However, don't be fooled by the name—this is by no means a low plant. These plants quickly reach their full height of around 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide. Once their flowering spectacle is complete, many of the catmints become leggy and flop open.
Does catmint spread quickly?
Catmints are fast-growing plants. When they first begin in spring, they form tidy little mounds of neat new foliage. This quickly grows outward as plants begin to set their buds for their flower show. One of the most common varieties grown is called 'Walker's Low.
Does catmint grow back every year?
Even without being sheared, the plant will repeat bloom and continue to look attractive over the hot summer months. Leave spent foliage in place over winter to help protect the crown. Wait until early spring to cut it back.
How quickly does catmint grow?
Water lightly and keep moist until sprouts appear, in two to three weeks. Thin seedlings to about 18 inches apart. It is important to note that not all nepeta species can be started from seed.
What can I plant next to catmint?
Try growing catmint plant companions such as verbena, agastache, lavender, and tufted hairgrass together....Catmint's blue flowers combine beautifully with other perennials that enjoy the same growing conditions such as:European Sage/Southernwood.Salvia.Jupiter's Beard.Yarrow.Lamb's Ear.Poppy Mallow/Winecups.
How do I stop catmint from flopping?
0:191:05How to Keep Plants from Falling Open in the Center - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo you just pinch off those tips and it sends all the growth hormones down into the rest of theMoreSo you just pinch off those tips and it sends all the growth hormones down into the rest of the plant where it triggers new branches.
Will catmint attract cats?
Catmint vs. Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a common, white-flowered plant in the mint family found throughout the United States, especially in disturbed areas. Cats love to roll in these low-growing plants, and cat toys filled with the dried leaves are famous for driving cats wild.
How do I keep catmint small?
Once plants are a few inches (8 cm.) tall, pinch them back to promote bushier growth. Catmint blooms throughout summer and fall. Deadheading spent blooms promotes additional flowering.
Should catmint be deadheaded?
0:001:31Deadheading Catmint (Nepeta) to Extend Bloom - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou if you've got some cat mint in your garden and the flowers are getting a little bit past theirMoreYou if you've got some cat mint in your garden and the flowers are getting a little bit past their peak what you can do is just take your pruning shears grab a clump of the flowers. And just shear
Do hummingbirds like catmint?
Catmint is easy to grow, long-blooming, heat-tolerant, and deer- and pest-resistant. After the hummingbird flowers fade, shear off the spent blooms and about a third of the stalk for a second round. Why we love it: Hummingbirds especially like Siberian catmint's blue blooms (Nepeta sibirica).
Do you cut back catmint in the fall?
Catmint (Nepeta) Luckily, catmint can be pruned back heavily any time of the year. In the fall, you can cut these back to as low as a few inches from the ground, but you'll have a hole in your garden until they flush back in the spring.
Does catmint bloom all summer?
It blooms profusely in late spring and early summer. It often will stop flowering for a time in mid-summer with hot weather, only to resume again in early fall, especially if cut back vigorously. Butterflies, hummingbirds and other beneficial insects love catmint flowers.
What is the best variety of catmint?
Nepeta 'Select Blue' (Select Blue Catmint) is a fantastic xeric perennial with dramatic lavender-blue flowers and handsome gray-green foliage. A recurrent bloomer, the first flush of flowers comes in late spring, and again later in summer. A long-lived, easily grown perennial, this is an excellent plant for beginners.
Should I cut back catmint after flowering?
After the first bloom, taller plants can flop over and become unkempt. This is a great time to shear your plant and encourage a second flush of flowers. Use a pair of disinfected pruning shears to create a tidy mound, trimming as much as half the plant's height if needed. These tough perennials will grow right back.
Will catmint rebloom if cut back?
Cutting back catnip will restore the plant. Prune after the first round of blooming to encourage a second flowering prior to winter. Then, after the first frost, you can cut the plants down to 3-4 inches (7.5-10 cm.) in height, which will encourage new growth in the spring.
Should I cut back catmint in the fall?
Catmint (Nepeta) Luckily, catmint can be pruned back heavily any time of the year. In the fall, you can cut these back to as low as a few inches from the ground, but you'll have a hole in your garden until they flush back in the spring.
Can catmint survive frost?
Is Catnip Winter Hardy? Catnip cold tolerance is pretty high and it grows well in zones 3 to 9. However, an unusually cold winter or colder climates can present a problem for catnip grown outdoors.
When does catmint bloom?
Dense and colorful flowers cover this catmint from early summer until fall. Its strong growth does not flop and grows to a broad mound throughout the growing season.
How tall is Nepeta racemosa?
Ranging in height from 12 to 18 inches, it is often used as a colorful groundcover.
What is the catmint of 2021?
2021 Perennial of the Year: ‘Cat’s Pajamas’ catmint ( Nepeta ×faassenii ). Photo by Proven Winners.
What is the best herb to use for house cats?
White with purple spotted flowers bloom in clusters at the end of stems from late spring into summer. Its leaves have been used for many years as a medicinal herb and is loved by housecats. Catnip also acts as a repellent for many garden pests including aphids and squash bugs.
How big is a lily?
Height/Spread: 2 to 2½ feet tall, 2½ to 3 feet wide. Don’t let the name fool you. This lovely cultivar, dubbed after the garden in Ireland where it originated, bears upright plumes of lavender-blue flowers nearly a foot long. It blooms profusely for months on end, from late spring through midsummer.
Is catnip a weed?
Catnip ( Nepeta cataria) is more aromatic than catmint. Its ornamental attributes are lacking and it tends to be weedy and invasive. In the garden, it offers the most value as a culinary herb or as a repellant for certain insects, including mosquitoes, aphids and squash bugs.
When do plants go into a lull?
Some plants may go into a summer lull after the first flush of blooms has faded. Shearing your plants back by a third or more will reenergize them for a second bloom cycle and produce lush new foliage. Even without being sheared, they will often repeat bloom, although not quite as prolifically.
How big do Japanese catmints get?
Nepeta × subsessilis bears the largest flower clusters of any catmint. Bloom spikes may be 8 inches long and 3 inches wide on plants that grow up to 4 feet tall. Sturdy stems keep the plant from requiring staking or shearing to maintain their strong upright habit.
How do catmints grow?
This quickly grows outward as plants begin to set their buds for their flower show. One of the most common varieties grown is called 'Walker's Low.' However, don't be fooled by the name—this is by no means a low plant. These plants quickly reach their full height of around 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide. Once their flowering spectacle is complete, many of the catmints become leggy and flop open. If this is the case, you can easily remedy that by giving the plants a good cutback. This will encourage a nice new flush of growth, as well as a second round of flowers if you are lucky.
How big does Nepeta racemosa get?
Nepeta racemosa 'Little Titch' is a lovely dwarf plant forming a compact mound of green foliage with blue flowers. It grows just 8-10 inches tall and spreads up to 12 inches wide, making a great border or edging plant. It blooms almost constantly from late spring through fall. Zones 4-8
What color is catmint?
Because catmint tends to come in soft colors, generally blue/purple blooms on top of cool grey-green, this plant is easy to pair with other perennials and annuals without clashing. The bloom show tends to reach its peak color just as most of the spring bulbs are finishing and before many of your summer perennials begin to bloom, easily filling in some color during that green season. They are also a wonderful source of nectar for many pollinators.
How tall are Walker's low catmints?
One of the most common varieties grown is called 'Walker's Low.'. However, don't be fooled by the name—this is by no means a low plant. These plants quickly reach their full height of around 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide. Once their flowering spectacle is complete, many of the catmints become leggy and flop open.
When does Persian catmint bloom?
Persian Catmint. Nepeta mussinii is a low-growing species that remains under a foot tall with a spread up to 18 inches wide. It's the first catmint to begin blooming in spring, and although it slows down in the heat of summer, it blooms almost constantly until hard freezes arrive in fall.
What is the compound in catnip?
The common catnip is actually a close relative called Nepeta cataria. This catnip produces a compound called nepetalactone, which triggers the response in cats that we all know and love. Many other species of nepeta also produce this compound but in much smaller doses.
What is a catmint?
Catmint is an aromatic herb that is commonly grown in the garden. It produces clusters of lavender-blue flowers amid mounds of gray-green foliage. This easily grown plant has an interesting history regarding its various uses in the landscape.
Is catnip good for cats?
Catnip is also found to be highly attractive to cats, with many of them exhibiting a naturally induced euphoria around the plant . They may nibble on it or even roll around in the foliage. This type is most suitable for “cat-friendly” gardens.
Does catmint need to be deadheaded?
It can also help prevent re-seeding. Faassen’s catmint ( Nepeta x faassenii) is sterile, however, and doesn’t require deadheading. Shear the plants back to half their size in fall or following harvest.
Can catmint be planted in containers?
Therefore, you may want to add some edging around them. Likewise, catmint can be planted and grown in containers.
Can catmint be grown in the sun?
Catmint can be grown in sun or partial shade with average, well-draining soil. They are even heat and drought tolerant, making them excellent plants for dry garden areas. Catmint is most often grown by seed or through division.
Is catnip the same as catmint?
Many people wonder what is the difference between catnip and catmint. While basically considered the same plant as they share many of the same characteristics, there are differences between the two species. Catnip ( Nepeta cataria) has less ornamental value in the garden than its catmint ( Nepeta mussinii) counterpart.
Is catmint a good plant for aphids?
The catmint herb is easy to grow. These plants are good for mass planting or edging and are suitable near vegetables as an insect deterrent — especially for aphids and Japanese beetles.
Types of catmint
There are over 200 different types of Nepeta perennials and more are being discovered by growers each year.
How to grow catmint
This section has a bunch of guidelines to get the most out of your catmint plant. Note that depending on the cultivar you have, care may vary.
Overwintering
Catmint is hardy in zones 4-8, but if you grow it in a lower zone, it may need winter protection.
Harvesting
If catmint is cared for properly (or lack thereof!) It’ll bloom continuously throughout the spring and fall. Just be sure to deadhead as it blooms to encourage it to keep growing.
Pests
Catmint is a relatively pest-free herb but some of its biggest annoyances are thrips.
Diseases
The main issues you need to watch out for are fungal problems. These are common if the plant is left to grow crazily and covers the soil with its dense leaves.
Best uses
Catmint can be used for cooking, teas, boiled stews, and soups. It can also be used to repel pests when placed next to pest-prone plants.
How tall is a Siberian catmint?
Siberian catmint ( N. sibirica) – Tall ( two to three feet) upright plant with large green leaves and rich blue flowers.
What is the name of the catmint plant?
The most popular catmint cultivars grown commercially in this country belong to the hybrid Nepeta x faassenii. The plants are named for J. H. Faassen, a Dutch nurseryman, in whose nursery this hybrid first appeared. The flowers of N. x Faassenii are sterile and do not need to be deadheaded to prevent self-sowing.
How tall does a Nepeta plant grow?
Veined Nepeta ( N. nervosa) – Native to India, this species grows one to two feet tall and is characterized by strong veins on three- to four-inch long leaves.
What color is catmint?
Catmint blends well with most other colors but looks particularly appealing when paired with colors in the red-blue color spectrum. In my own garden, it looks stunning planted with irises. In particular, it pairs well with the medium lavender-blue iris ‘Crater Lake’ and with the blue-violet hues of iris ‘Swingtown.’.
What is the family of catmints?
Emerging Catmint Foliage. This herbaceous perennial is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae), which includes lavender, rosemary, thyme, bee balm and giant hyssop. In addition to having aromatic leaves, these plants share other common traits, such as two-lipped flowers, square stems and opposite leaves.
Is catmint a good substitute for lavender?
While the two are closely related, catnip is more aromatic than cat mint but has less ornamental value. Catmint plays well with others. If you love the classic combination of lavender and roses but find lavender too finicky to grow in this area, catmint is a good substitute.
When does a lavender plant bloom?
After the initial flush of blossoms, the plant continues to show lots of color well into late summer or early fall. Colorful calyces that are similar in color to the blossoms enhance the floral display even after the blossoms are gone.
How much space does catmint need?
Catmints grow in abundance and spread throughout large areas. If you are planning to grow catmints, take care of the area and space you are planning to plant.
How much does catmint spread?
Catmints are vibrant and bushy. They take space to grow and spread. In length, they can reach from 5 inches to 36 inches maximum. In width, they can spread up to 3 feet. Planting catmints needs to be 1-2 feet apart. And larger species need more space to spread. Six hill giants need 3 feet of space.
What can I plant next to catmint?
Catmints are vibrant and colorful. They can grow in low to medium water conditions.
Is catmint invasive?
Catmints are not invasive in general. Some species like the Siberian catmint are invasive. But others are not. They can turn invasive under warm and moist factors. Other than that, they are useful ones with tough traits. The soil needs proper drainage and enough sunlight and space to grow.
5 Days and 4 Catmints!
Last Saturday I was shopping at a nursery where I found a ‘Walker’s Low’ Catmint ( Nepeta faassinii ). I’ve talked about the benefits of Nepeta before so it may not be a surprise that I bought one. I planted the new perennial the other day in our front sidewalk garden.
How I Took Catmint Cuttings
I made three small stem-tip cuttings, dabbed them in rooting hormone (which is not really necessary) and stuck them in my sandbox. (You’re never to old to play in the sandbox right?) The sandbox I have is really just a few aluminum baking pans that I put sterilized playground sand in to use for my cuttings.
How to Stop Catmint from Getting Leggy
If you are having trouble with your catmint getting leggy watch this short video I did on pinching back your catmint. This technique is great with other plants that have a tendency to fall open from the center too.
