Catmint

Sun

Full sun is best; light afternoon shade can help in hot climates, but too much shade produces loose, floppy growth.

Water

Water regularly while establishing. Once established, water during prolonged dry spells, allowing the soil to dry between waterings; avoid persistently wet roots.

Soil

Well-drained soil, including sandy, chalky or gravelly ground. Tolerates a broad pH range; avoid waterlogged clay and very rich soil.

Height

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m), depending on cultivar

Spread

1.5-3 ft (0.45-0.9 m), depending on cultivar

Flowers

Lavender-blue to violet-blue flowers from late spring into summer, often repeating into early autumn after trimming.

Foliage

Small, opposite, softly hairy grey-green leaves with toothed edges and an aromatic scent when brushed.

Growth

Moderate to fast; usually forms a substantial clump within two growing seasons.

Care needed

Low

• Water new plants deeply whenever the root zone begins to dry during their first growing season.
• Skip routine feeding in ordinary garden soil; rich feeding encourages floppy stems.
• Keep mulch clear of the crown, especially where winters are wet.
• Allow enough space for the mound to spread without covering smaller neighbours.
• Divide congested clumps in spring when the centre becomes sparse.

Pruning. After the main flush fades, shear the flowered stems back by about half, keeping some leafy growth, to encourage a compact mound and further flowers. Cut remaining dead stems close to the ground in late winter or early spring before new growth lengthens.

Late winter

Remove dead stems where new growth has not yet started; leave them longer in very cold regions.

Spring

Plant or divide clumps once the soil is workable, then water thoroughly.

Late spring

Check young plants for slug damage and protect newly planted clumps from cats if necessary.

Summer

Shear after the first main flowering flush and water if the soil is very dry.

Early autumn

Enjoy repeat flowers and avoid heavy feeding or hard cutting back.

Late autumn

Clear fallen leaves away from the crown and check that winter rain can drain freely.

• Edge sunny paths with repeated mounds, allowing the foliage to soften paving without blocking the walkway.
• Plant beneath shrub roses to cover bare lower stems and contrast blue flowers with pink, white or yellow blooms.
• Repeat through gravel gardens with lavender, yarrow and ornamental grasses for a drought-tolerant planting.
• Use at the front of mixed perennial borders to link taller plants with a low band of grey-green foliage.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, English country, Mediterranean, Pollinator garden, Low-maintenance and Dry gravel garden.

Plant it with: Shrub roses, Lavender, Yarrow, Bearded iris, Upright stonecrop and Feather reed grass.

Wildlife: Flowers attract bees and other pollinating insects. Deer and rabbits often leave the aromatic foliage alone, although no plant is completely browse-proof. Some cats are attracted to the foliage, but their response varies.

• Crown or root rot in wet soil: improve drainage or move the plant to a raised bed; replace badly rotted plants.
• Floppy, open growth: provide more sun, stop feeding and shear after flowering.
• Powdery mildew during dry, crowded conditions: improve airflow, water the soil rather than the foliage and remove badly affected leaves.
• Cats crushing young plants: place a temporary open wire guard around the clump until it is established.

Not known to be toxic to people. Toxicity information specific to this hybrid is limited for cats, dogs and horses; related catnip can cause vomiting, diarrhoea or behavioural changes in pets that eat it. Do not encourage pets to eat the leaves or stems, and seek veterinary advice if symptoms develop.

• Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

  Usually taller and more upright, with larger, greener, heart-shaped leaves and mainly whitish flowers marked with purple; catmint has smaller, greyer leaves and predominantly blue flowers.

• Siberian catmint (Nepeta sibirica)

  Has taller upright stems, greener elongated leaves and noticeably larger blue-purple flowers rather than a low, grey-leaved mound.

• English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

  Has narrow, un-toothed leaves and a persistent woody framework; catmint has broader, toothed leaves and mostly herbaceous stems.

The epithet faassenii honours Dutch nurseryman Faassen, whose nursery raised the hybrid.

Propagation. Divide established clumps in spring or take softwood cuttings in late spring to early summer. This hybrid is generally sterile, so seed is not a reliable means of propagation or of reproducing named cultivars.

Accepted botanical name

Nepeta faassenii

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.