Catmint ( Nepata ) is a magnificent works for the mixed seam or perennial garden . It stick out passion , drought and poor soil and spreads promptly . In fact , you ’ll probably be giving it away to friends before too long .
Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 3 through 7 , Nepeta cataria is touch on to catnip , but it ’s more extravagant . Mature plants take on a rounded , bushy form with century of improbable , refined stems . The stems have small , pinnate , gray-headed - green leave that resemble mountain leaves . The plants get a flush of blooms in early summer and will bloom again if you bring down them back . blue - purple is the most plebeian shade , but some variety come in pinkish , white or even yellow .
Like catnip , catmint will attract the neighborhood big cat . Compounds in the plant act as a balmy hallucinogen or sedative drug for kitties . Even if you do n’t own a cat , you might point out flattened areas in the plant where big cat have rolled around . To monish this cavorting , broadcast a sheet of shuttlecock netting over the plants . Not only does catmint attract Caterpillar , it attracts bee , moth and butterflies . When in full - bloom , the plants are buzz with humblebee and Apis mellifera activity . For this reason , catmint should n’t be establish near entrance or meet area .
Catmint grows from 12 inch tall to 36 in tall , reckon on the diverseness . In one season , it can spread up to 3 ft so give it plenty of space and divide it every three to four years . It generally die back to the ground over the winter .
Planting Catmint
plant life Nepeta cataria from nursery transplantation , from a champion ’s divisions , or from seed . Sow the seed outdoors after the last expected rime or start them indoors four to six weeks before planting time . Some varieties are uninspired and hybrids may not grow reliable to sow , so using division or transplants is the most dependable way to acquire this plant . Catmint flower well in full sun , except in places with very hot , dry weather , where it can take some good afternoon shade . The ground does n’t need to be particularly productive , but it must drain well . Dig in some compost and a bit of manure before planting .
Space the plants 12 to 24 in asunder , depending on the mature size . Water the plants frequently for the first four weeks after planting . Once established , the plant are drought tolerant , but grow good with weekly watering .
inseminate catmints in the spring before new emergence issue with ¼ cup 10 - 10 - 10 fertilizer distribute around the base of the plant . Cut the plant back by at least one - third after the first bloom . you may cut them again mid - summer if they become unruly , but do n’t abridge them after August .
Catmint Problems and Pests
So long as the ground drain well , you ’re improbable to run across any problem with catnip . Root putrefaction are common , though , in soggy soils . Catmint can become encroaching in moist , warm experimental condition . Give it plenty of space and divide it frequently to domesticate it .
Catmint Varieties
Faassen ’s catmintFaassen ’s catmint(Nepeta X faassenii)is the most commonly grown species . This plant place in sizing from 12 column inch tall to 24 inches tall . Faassen ’s catnip is sterile and wo n’t self - sow like other species . change include ‘ Kit Kat , ’ which get 2 base tall and blossom for a foresighted period ; ‘ White Wonder , ’ which as the name implies , has ashen flowers ; and ‘ Six Hills Giant , ’ which produce up to 4 feet grandiloquent and raise 12 in spike of purple blooms .
Siberian catmintSiberian catmint(Nepeta sibirica)is a cold - hardy motley that grows 2 to 3 foot improbable . This plant has large leaves than Faassen ’s catnip and bluish - purple efflorescence .
Japanese catmintJapanese catmint(Nepeta subsessilis)is an idealistic choice if you have dampish soil . It bring forth lavender to pink blooms on 2 feet tall stems .
Yellow catmintYellow catmint(Nepeta govaniana)is aboriginal to the Himalayas and produces yellow salad days in mid - to - late summer . Check garden catalogue and online sources if you ca n’t find it topically .
For more information on growing catmint, visit the following links:
Catmintfrom Cornell University grow GuidesCatmintfrom the Colorado State University annexe
memorize about growing catminton YouTube .
Watch a computed tomography totally freak out about catminton YouTube .
Julie Christensen check about garden on her granddaddy ’s farm and female parent ’s vegetable garden in southern Idaho . Today , she lives and gardens on the gamy plains of Colorado . When she ’s not digging in the dirt , Julie writes about food , education , parenting and gardening .
