Catmint – Perennial Highlight

You can’t go wrong when planting Catmint (Nepeta) in your Cape Cod perennial garden! As yellow and pink bloom season begins to taper off, the purples are next in line; lavender, Russian sage, salvia, hyssop, and catmint (just to name a few). Now is the time to plant these, before they bloom, so you can enjoy them from start to finish. 

Catmint is a member of the mint family, as is catnip. While catnip (Nepeta cataria) and other mints have a weedy growth habit, catmint grows as a mound and will not spread. We should also note that it does not have an intoxicating effect on cats! Another Nepeta relative, calamint, looks similar to catmint but features white flowers. 

Why should you plant catmint? 

1. Fills spaces quickly and mounds beautifully for a soft texture in your garden either as a filler or border, or as a feature in a rock garden. 
2. Can be refreshed during the growing season: deadheading and pruning results in another round of blooms and a fuller plant. 
3. Blooms in late spring, and is one of the last colors still showing in the fall. 
4. Bees absolutely adore catmint, but rabbits and deer do not! 
5. Resistant to insect pests. 
6. Extremely low maintenance: well adapted to sandy and poor soils, heat and drought tolerant, and accepting of salty coastal winds 
7. Has fragrant foliage and flowers that can be used in teas for a relaxing effect. 

We currently have 5 different varieties of catmint in stock! Leaf shape and size vary slightly, with the biggest difference being plant size. For optimal blooming, plant catmint where it will get at least 6 hours of full sun per day. For complimentary color, plant alongside yellow flowers that bloom at the same time: black eyed susans, yarrow, and daylillies. 

Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ creates a rounded mound 36″ wide and 30″ tall. This plant pairs well with Salvia ‘May Night’, Astrantia, and Cranesbill. 

Credit: gardenia.net (Nepeta ‘Walkers Low’ planted with salvia and pink climbing roses) 

Nepeta ‘Junior Walker’ stays compact, at 24″ wide and 18″ tall. 

Credit: Proven Winners 

Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’ is the largest, with a 48″ spread and 30″ height. Plant this with pink roses, such as a David Austin ‘Gertrude Jekyll’. 

Credit: gardenia.net 

Nepeta ‘Blue Wonder’ is a dwarf variety, growing only to 18″ wide and 18″ tall. A fragrant, pollinator friendly groundcover. 

Credit: Epic Gardening 

Lastly, the ‘Chartreuse on the Loose’ variety features bright leaves for more contrast in your garden beds. It spreads up to 24″ inches but is low-growing at only 10″ tall. 

Credit: Proven Winners 

No matter what look you are going for in your landscape, catmint checks every box. It is reliable, versatile, low-maintenance, a pollinator powerhouse, gives color all season, and is pest-resistant. You are sure to love this plant!