Catmint

Catmint is one of the longest-blooming, most reliable perennials in the garden, producing wave after wave of soft lavender-blue flower spikes from late spring through early autumn. The aromatic silver-grey foliage forms a billowy, rounded mound 30-60cm tall and wide that is deer-proof, rabbit-resistant, and drought-tolerant—making it one of the most trouble-free garden plants available.

Plant in full sun in average to lean, well-drained soil. Like many Mediterranean-origin plants, catmint actually performs better in poor soil than rich—excessive fertility produces lank, floppy growth at the expense of flowers. Space plants 45cm apart for a dense, continuous planting, or use as a specimen at path edges and border fronts. Catmint establishes quickly and begins flowering in its first season.

The secret to continuous bloom is shearing. After the first flush of flowers fades in midsummer, cut the entire plant back by half to two-thirds with hedge shears. Within two weeks, fresh growth emerges and a second—sometimes third—flush of bloom follows, carrying the display well into autumn. This hard shearing also keeps the plant compact and prevents the center from opening up or flopping.

Catmint belongs to the genus Nepeta, a large group within the Lamiaceae (mint) family comprising roughly 250 species distributed primarily across Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. The genus takes its name from Nepete, an ancient Etruscan city in central Italy where the plant was noted growing in abundance by early Roman naturalists. Wild catmint species have thrived in the dry, rocky landscapes of the Mediterranean basin and the temperate grasslands of Central Asia for millennia, evolving aromatic defenses that both repel herbivorous insects and attract beneficial pollinators.

Catmint entered the cultivated garden tradition during the medieval period, when European monks grew it in their physic gardens alongside other medicinal herbs. It was valued as a remedy for fevers, colds, and nervous conditions, and its dried leaves were commonly brewed into calming tisanes. By the 17th century, herbalists such as Nicholas Culpeper were recommending catmint preparations for a wide range of ailments, and the plant became a staple of cottage herb gardens throughout England and continental Europe.

The modern ornamental catmint owes much of its popularity to deliberate hybridization in the early 20th century. In the 1930s, the Dutch nurseryman J.H. Faassen crossed Nepeta racemosa with Nepeta nepetella to produce Nepeta x faassenii, a vigorous, sterile hybrid prized for its long-blooming lavender-blue flowers and compact, mounding habit. This hybrid gave rise to celebrated cultivars such as Walker's Low, which was named Perennial Plant of the Year in 2007 by the Perennial Plant Association, and Six Hills Giant, a taller selection originating from the Clarence Elliott nursery in England. Today, catmint is recognized worldwide as an indispensable landscape plant, valued for its drought tolerance, pollinator appeal, deer resistance, and season-long ornamental display in borders, mass plantings, and naturalized meadow gardens.

Catmint performs best in average to lean, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-7.5. It thrives in sandy, gravelly, or loamy soils and struggles only in heavy, wet clay. Do not over-enrich the soil—too much nitrogen produces floppy growth with fewer flowers. If planting in clay, add generous amounts of grit or gravel to improve drainage. Little to no fertilizer is needed; a light application of balanced slow-release fertilizer in spring is sufficient for poor soils. Container plants need a well-drained mix and light monthly feeding.

Cut catmint stems for fresh flower arrangements when the flower spikes are about half-open. The soft blue-lavender color combines beautifully with roses, daisies, and other cottage garden flowers. Stems last about 5-7 days in water. For drying, cut stems when flowers are at peak color and hang upside down in a warm, dark room for 1-2 weeks. The dried flowers retain a pleasant fragrance and a muted lavender color that works well in dried arrangements and potpourri.

Dried catmint stems maintain their aromatic fragrance for months and are excellent in potpourri and sachets. Hang-dry bundles for two weeks, then strip dried flowers and store in airtight containers. The dried leaves and flowers can be used to make a mild herbal tea similar to chamomile. For seed saving, allow some flower spikes to remain uncut after the final bloom flush; collect the tiny seeds when the calyces turn brown and dry.