Find out how to grow catmint , a close cousin-german of catnip that create hundreds of pollinator - attracting flowers in summer .
Catmints are tight - growing , various works that are easy to develop . When they first set out arise in spring , they form goodish knoll of new leafage . They quickly grow outwards and begin to set their buds for their blossom show . Then , rich royal flush explode into color in former summer just as the outpouring bulbs are finishing and before many of your summertime perennial set out to blossom . The show is outstanding and lasts for weeks . In accession to their beauty , the flowers are asource of nectarfor many pollinator .
Carson Downing
Credit:Carson Downing
Where to Plant Catmint
Catmint is a unfearing perennial that grow and blossom throughoutUSDA Plant Hardiness Zones 3–9 . These plant can handle a variety of soil situations , so as long as you have full sun , catmint will likely grow well for you . utilise shorter types of catmint as an edging plant along a track or boundary line garden . Taller varieties make low - maintenance addition to mixed perennial bed .
How and When to Plant Catmint
In the springiness , dig a hole slightly larger in breadth than your flora ’s rootball and just as deep . Remove the plant from its pot and softly tease the outer roots free from the soil . station in the yap and backfill with filth , chuck it down as you do so . Water to settle the dirt .
Space catmint plants 1 to 3 groundwork apart , depending on the fledged size of your chosen variety . Water new plants regularly during the first year . A sunny location is commonly best , but when Nepeta cataria is establish in the warmest regions , it benefits from good afternoon specter .
Grant Webster
Credit:Grant Webster
Catmint Care Tips
One of the perennial powerhouse of the plant world , catmint adds beautiful color and texture without demanding a lot of care .
Light
An important thing to keep in psyche is that although these plants bloom insunshine or fond shade , they are much more likely to flop receptive in a shady location .
Soil and Water
One of the skillful thing about Nepeta cataria is their ruggedness and power to handle short soil stipulation . Even in sound clay soil , catmint will prosper . However , the plant life will appreciate some organic matter likecompost commix into the soiland regular lachrymation .
Fertilizer
There ’s no need to fertilize catmint at all . In fact , the plant tends to flop over and split when the soil is too fertile . Established plants may profit from a unmarried software of slow - releasegranular fertilizerbefore the blossom time of year begin , but it is n’t necessary .
Pruning
Once their unfolding spectacle is double-dyed , many catmints be given to fall flat assailable . However , you may easily rectify this bygiving the plant life a good cutback . This often encourages a new flush of growth and a 2nd round of flower .
How to Propagate Catmint
The best means topropagate existing plant is through divisionduring the spring growing season . Use a sharp shovel to swerve a part of the flora with a good source system and replant it . you could alsopropagate through cuttings taken in spring . property 3 - inch cuttings in pot soil , keep the dirt moist , and the cuttings will root in about three workweek . Plant the rooted slip into the garden and water well .
Types of Catmint
Some species of catmint can become scraggy in a garden place setting . If you are upset about this , look for sterile varieties like ' Walker ’s Low ' that will not sow about and cause any future problems .
‘Little Titch’ Catmint
Nepeta racemosa’Little Titch ' is a endearing dwarf industrial plant forming a summary mound of green leafage with blue prime . It spring up just 8 to 10 inches tall and spreads up to 12 inches wide , making a great boundary line or edging plant . It blossom almost constantly from later spring through fall . Zones 4–8 .
Faassen’s Catmint
Nepeta×faasseniiis atough repeated herbthat thrives in blistering , teetotal weather . plant boast mounding sprays of silvern - green foliage with a bang of blue flower . Deadhead or cut back after the first peak of rosiness to encourage more flowers . It originate 1 to 2 ft grandiloquent and circulate up to 2 feet all-encompassing . zona 4–9 .
Japanese Catmint
Nepeta×subsessilisbears the largest flower clusters of any catmint . Bloom spikes may be 8 inches long and 3 inch wide on plant that uprise up to 4 feet tall . Sturdy stems keep the plant from requiring jeopardize or shearing to defend its strong upright riding habit . Like other catmint , it has a long season of bloom . Zones 4–8 .
Persian Catmint
Nepeta mussiniiis a low - growing metal money that remains under a base improbable with a counterpane up to 18 inches wide . It ’s the first catmint to bloom in spring , and although it slow up down in the warmth of summertime , it blooms almost constantly until concentrated freezes arrive in dip . This mintage self - seeds readily in the garden and can become weedyif it ’s not deadheaded on a regular basis . Persian Nepeta cataria is exceptionally dusty - hardy . zone 3–9 .
‘Six Hills Giant’ Catmint
Denny Schrock
Nepeta’Six Hills Giant ' is sometimes wrong listed as a variety ofNepeta×faassenii . It closely resembles that species in all qualities except size — it ’s twice as large , acquire to 3 feet tall and 30 inches broad . It can flop open in midsummer , but if you edit it back after the first flush of prime , it will reliably rebloom and keep a uniform mounded habit . Zones 4–9 .
‘Walker’s Low’ Catmint
Nepeta’Walker ’s Low ' is an outstanding hybrid that has a long season of heyday and is fabulously easy to get . Although " low-pitched " is part of its name , it is not a dwarf variety ; it can give 30 inches tall and wide . Zones 4–9 .
Catmint Companion Plants
Because catmint be given to come in soft color , generally blue / purple blooms on top of cool gray - putting surface , this plant iseasy to pair off with other perennialsand yearly without clash .
Peony
Perhaps thebest - loved recurrent , herbaceous peonies ( Paeonia lactiflora ) are a garden classic . Thesumptuous peony flowers — single , semidouble , anemone concentrate on ( or Japanese ) , and in full double — in splendiferous tincture of pinks and Marxist as well as white and yellow announce that springiness has really arrive . zona 3 - 8 .
‘Moonshine’ Yarrow
Like catmint , Achillea millefolium ( Achillea spp . ) thrives in heat and full Sunday . It ’s also not picky about soil and does n’t demand much water . ' Moonshine ' is a well - act variety that does n’t reseed and spread itself around . butterfly stroke and other pollinator are attracted to its yellow flowers , which contrast beautifully with the megrims and purples of blooming catmint . Zones 3 - 8 .
Bee Balm
Bee balm(Monardaspp . ) is a magnet for hummingbird , butterflies , and other pollinators . The spiky flowers come in jewel look of red , pinkish , purple , and white , surrounded by dark bract . Look for newer salmagundi that offer compact sizing and good disease resistance . Zones 3 - 9 .
Frequently Asked Questions
Catmint and thetypical catnipthat you would give to your cats are related , but not the same plant . Both works produce a chemical call nepetalactone , which triggers the response in cats . However , catmint produces a much smaller amount than catnip , so it is n’t as attractive to cat .
Every three or four age , dissever catmint plants to keep them vigorous . Spring or early fall are the best sentence to divide these plant life .
There ’s a probability that computerized tomography will destruct catmint . Cover your plant with a wire cage or tote up unretentive wager between the stems to stop cats from crushing these plant .
Credit: Denny Schrock
The olfaction of catmint is sweep over for mice , so it should keep them aside from your garden . Catmint will also repel certain mosquito , ticks , spider , and beetles .
Yes . Catmint will pull bees , and since it has a long blossom metre , it will benefit these pollinators for month .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit:Denny Schrock
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Credit: Bob Stefko
Credit: Bob Stefko
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
