Blue Catmint Nepeta x faassenii
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Nepeta mussinii
- Nepeta racemosa
- Phonetic Spelling
- ne-PEE-tah fah-SEN-ee-eye
- Description
-
Blue catmint is an herbaceous perennial, ground cover native to Europe and in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. It rapidly forms a clump 18 to 24 inches tall and spreading as much as 36 inches wide that blooms from spring into summer. It is a sterile hybrid plant, the result of a cross between Nepeta racemosa and Nepeta nepetella. It was first cultivated by Faassen Nurseries in the Netherlands.
Site this plant in full sun to partial shade, especially in the South. It tolerates a variety of soil textures so long as they are well draining. Once established, blue catmint is drought tolerant. Shear after flowering to encourage repeat bloom. Propagate by division.
Gray-green leaves and lavender-blue flowers are highly aromatic. It came to be called catmint owing to having a strong scent that cats find attractive. However, the scent deters deer. As a sterile plant it is unlikely to reseed.
Grow blue catmint along a path, patio, or near an entrance to enjoy the aroma. Use it in a border or mass planted in a cottage or edible garden, or in a garden for the blind. It is also suitable for growing in a container or crevices in a rock wall.
Insects, Disease, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Some cultivars have shown excellent resistance to phytophthora. Other cultivars have shown poor resistance to pythium root rot. See Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot in the Landscape.
VIDEO Created by Homegrown featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Durham County Extension Master Gardener℠ Demonstration Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Blue Wonder'
Shorter, dark blue-purple flowers - 'Junior Walker'
1-1.5 ft tall, low and compact; lavender flowers. Poor resistance to pythium root rot. - 'Kitten Around'
Excellent resistance to phytophthora. - 'Novanepjun'
Shorter than 'Walker's Low' - 'Select Blue'
15-18 inch tall mounds; blue flowers - 'Six Hills Giant'
Periwinkle blue flowers, 2-3 ft tall
'Walker's Low'
Deep lavender-blue flowers - 'Blue Wonder'
- 'Blue Wonder', 'Junior Walker', 'Kitten Around', 'Novanepjun', 'Select Blue', 'Six Hills Giant', 'Walker's Low'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue Wonder'
Shorter, dark blue-purple flowers - 'Junior Walker'
1-1.5 ft tall, low and compact; lavender flowers. Poor resistance to pythium root rot. - 'Kitten Around'
Excellent resistance to phytophthora. - 'Novanepjun'
Shorter than 'Walker's Low' - 'Select Blue'
15-18 inch tall mounds; blue flowers - 'Six Hills Giant'
Periwinkle blue flowers, 2-3 ft tall
'Walker's Low'
Deep lavender-blue flowers - 'Blue Wonder'
- 'Blue Wonder', 'Junior Walker', 'Kitten Around', 'Novanepjun', 'Select Blue', 'Six Hills Giant', 'Walker's Low'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Nepeta
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe
- Distribution:
- Widely spread throughout US
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Some cultivars resistant to phytophthora.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Cascading
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Trumpet
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 0.5-inch, 2 lipped violet-blue flowers on tall spikes in summer.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 1-2 inch oblong to oval gray-green leaves; rounded teeth; aromatic when crushed
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Description:
- Green square stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Rock Wall
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Urban Conditions
