Nepeta
Catmint, Catnip
- Height × spread
- 0.25m – 1m × 0.3m – 1m
- Position
- Full sun
Availability
Generally available in Spring & Summer
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
Most are familiar with Nepeta x faassenii and its forms, this is the dreamy catnip with its soft greyish aromatic foliage and tumbling heads of soft mauve-purple flower heads. There are a large number of other garden worthy varieties of this useful genus. Some of them have a more upright habit and can take their place within a border where they contribute their flowers in shades of blue, pink, white and even yellow. Nepeta sibirica with its plentiful blue flowers provides a good backdrop for the vibrant tones of yellow and orange delivered by day lilies and crocosmia. Nepeta govaniana at 90cm in height has pale yellow flowers that can lift dull blues. In addition to these moderately hearty plants there are a range of dwarf forms, such as the spreading Nepeta phyllochlamys with its lilac pink flowers, or the delicate white flowered Nepeta racemosa 'Snowflake' that is only 30cm in height. All these plants are summer flowering, some for a very long period, and apart from the danger of being consumed by cats are eminently garden worthy plants.
- Flower colour
- Blue, Cream, Lilac, Pink, Purple, White, Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Blue, Green, Grey, Purple, Yellow
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes, some varieties
- Shape
- Bell, Column, Cube, Dome
- Height
- 0.25m – 1m
- Spread
- 0.3m – 1m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Wild flower meadow, Small scale garden, Seaside garden, Scented garden, Prairie garden, Mediterranean garden, Herb garden, Gravel garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, likes part shade, likes light shade
- Soil type
- All types
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Damp and wet soil, Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, most are hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Ground cover, Coloured stems, Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant, Bee attraction, Butterfly attraction
- Maintenance
- Easycare – low/no maintenance
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Planting & general
Outdoors
Water some varieties differently
Some plants within this genus have additional requirements for water. It is best to look up your specific plant, or the species it belongs to for watering guidance.
Planting
Prune some varieties
Some plants within this genus have additional requirements for pruning. It is best to look up your specific plant, or the species it belongs to for pruning guidance.
Planting
Support some varieties
Some plants within this genus may require support for young plants and/or long stems. It is best to look up your specific plant for guidance, and/or check the label.
Planting
Divide some varieties differently
Some plant varieties within this genus have different requirements for dividing them when they get big. It is best to look up your specific plant, or the species it belongs to for guidance, and/or check the label.
Found in
More Nepeta
Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant'
Catmint, Catnip
Nepeta grandiflora 'Summer Magic'
Caucasus catmint, Giant catmint
Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low'
Persian catmint
Nepeta subsessilis
Short stalked catmint
Nepeta 'Blue Planet'
Catnip, Catmint
Nepeta 'Cat's Pajamas'
Dwarf catmint
Nepeta 'Leeds Castle'
Long stalked catmint
Nepeta 'Magical Mr Blue Sky'
Catnip, Catmint