Blue Catmint Nepeta x faassenii
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Nepeta mussinii
- Nepeta racemosa
- Phonetic Spelling
- NEP-eh-tah BY fah-SEN-ee-eye
- Description
-
This is a sterile hybrid perennial catmint which typically forms a spreading clump to 18-24” tall and spreading to as much as 36” wide. Gray-green leaves and lavender-blue flowers are highly aromatic. Space plants 1-1.5 ft. apart and shear after flowering to repeat bloom.
Plant in full sun to partial shade, especially in the south. It is drought tolerant once established. Grow along a path or near an entrance to enjoy the aroma. It can be planted in the perennial garden as it will not reseed. Your kitties will love you for it!
VIDEO Created by Homegrown featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- 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 - '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', '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 - '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', '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
- 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
- Herb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- 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, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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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:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
