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Catmint

Herbaceous Perennial Flower, Ground Cover

Nepeta x faassenii
Lamiaceae Family
Synonym: Nepeta mussinii

While less attractive to cats than catnip, catmint's gray-green leaves and lavendar-blue flowers are more attractive. Very drought-tolerant, use it in rock gardens, borders and as an edging.

	Site and Plant Characteristics
	Growing Information
	Varieties

Site Characteristics

Sunlight:

full sun
part shade

Thrives in full sun but can grow in partial shade.

Soil conditions:

tolerates droughty soil

Hardiness zones:

3 to 8

Special locations:

rock gardens - Good edging plant or small-scale ground cover in rock gardens.

Plant Traits

Lifecycle: perennial

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 1 to 2 feet

Most varieties grow 1 to 2 feet tall. 'White Wonder' and 'Snowflake' grow only 1 foot tall. 'Green Hills Giant' reaches 3 feet tall.

Spread: 1.5 to 3 feet

Bloom time:

early summer
mid-summer
late summer
early fall

Flower color:

blue
violet
white

Flowers are small, abundant soft lavender. Some varieties have white or blue flowers.

Foliage color: gray-green

Foliage texture: medium

Shape:

cushion, mound or clump
spreading mass
upright

Variable habit ranging from upright, to clumping to matlike and bushy.

Special Considerations

Special characteristics:

deer resistant
non-aggressive
non-invasive
not native to North America - Hybrid product of horticultural selection. Parents from Turkey, Caucaus, Middle East.
fragrant

Attracts:

beneficial insects

Special uses:

Growing Information

How to plant:

Propagate by cuttings, layering, division or separation - Seed of this hybrid is sterile, so it will not self-seed and must be propagated vegetatively.
Divide plants in spring or fall. Make softwood cuttings in early summer.

Maintenance and care:

Plants seldom require division.
Deadheading not necessary to prevent spreading, as seeds are sterile. But may encourage continuous flowering through the season.
Cutting plants back by half to two-thirds encourages fresh foliage growth.

More growing information: How to Grow Perennials

Varieties

'Six Hills Giant' grows 3 feet tall.
'White Wonder' and 'Snowflake' have white flowers and grow only 1 foot tall.
'Porzellan' has light blue flowers.
'Superba' has dark blue flowers.
'Blue Wonder' has dark blue flowers.