How many varieties of catmint are there?
Nepeta, commonly known as catmint, includes approximately 250 species of herbaceous perennials in the mint family Lamiaceae. Catmint (nepeta)is not at all like regular mint. It spreads very slowly for me, is not at all invasive, and is just a nice perennial flower that dies down in winter. You need to cut off the dead stems so the new growth looks good again come spring. I also cut mine back after first bloom to get a second summer bloom.Catmint (Nepeta spp. Some species of catmint, such as Nepeta cataria (catnip), are known to self-seed and can spread rapidly if not controlled.CATMINT (Nepeta spp. This tough herbaceous perennial plant is more tolerant of different soils and drought conditions than lavender. Combine this complementary pair in a low-maintenance border or curbside strip. Learn more about growing catmint. Pictured: ‘Cat’s Pajamas’ catmint from Proven Winners.Catmint is a hardy, herbaceous perennial that needs very little extra care or maintenance during the winter. This plant goes dormant and will die back completely in the coldest of the hardiness zones. Catmint may stay semi-evergreen in warmer climates. The plant still goes dormant, but for a shorter period of time.No catmint is a more beautiful, uniform grower than Cat’s Meow Nepeta. Its flowers are dense and colorful, and its habit is more refined. Plus, it stands strong with no flopping, getting wider and growing to a broad mound as the season progresses.
What are the disadvantages of catmint?
What are the disadvantages of catmint? One downside of catmint is its tendency to become floppy and look a bit wild in the summer. Some older types can also self-seed easily. To tackle these issues, choose a compact variety that doesn’t produce seeds and trim the plant in mid-summer to refresh its appearance. Catmint is perennial that can be planted almost any time of the year, depending on your hardiness zone. Early spring is typically the best time. A fall planting, just before it goes dormant for the winter, will work well in the warmer hardiness zones.If you want to prevent and contain the spread of your catmint, the right time to prune it is in the spring between February and March. Tip: Pruning the plant in the autumn will not be rewarded, be sure to wait until spring. After all, if catmint is cut back in autumn, it unnecessarily weakens it before the cold season.Although most prefer full sun, they won’t mind a bit of afternoon shade, especially when grown in hot climates. Catmint grows easily in most soil types, including rocky or clay soils, but performs best in well-drained conditions to prevent root rot. For containers, use a high-quality all-purpose potting mix.Flowering starts late in the spring and can continue through the early fall. Catmint may fail to bloom well in overly rich soil or in too much shade.Growth habit: Catmint is a perennial plant that can grow up to 3 feet (90 cm) tall. Since it is a perennial plant, it will come back year after year. Flowers: Catmint flowers are small and tubular and come in shades of blue, lavender, pink, and white, depending on the variety.
What is the tallest variety of catmint?
Very free flowering and one of the tallest, Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’ (Catmint) is a vigorous herbaceous perennial noted for its billowing, aromatic, gray-green foliage that is topped with 9-12 in. CATMINT (Nepeta spp. Nepeta is one of the best low maintenance perennials, with soft gray-green foliage and blue, lavender, or white tubular flowers that bloom for months. Plants are exceptionally cold hardy, tolerant of most soils, and need little supplemental fertilizer or watering.Nepeta x psfike ‘Little Trudy®’ (Catmint) is the most compact Catmint cultivar, making it an excellent choice for the front edge of the perennial border, containers, rock gardens, or groundcovers.Nepeta racemosa ‘Superba’ | This catmint forms a cushion of slightly smaller, aromatic leaves (like most other catmints, its foliage has that pungent sage-mint fragrance so loved by cats). Its violet-blue flowers appear throughout summer, the trial judges noting how it re-blooms well, the flowers having good longevity.
What is a good companion plant for catmint?
Best Plants To Grow With Catmint Plants like salvia, Russian sage, snapdragons, and elderberry are good companions for catmint because they require full sun and can handle low-quality soil and dry conditions. Roses are a classic companion to catmint. Use a low-growing variety of catmint as a groundcover around rose bushes. Adorn a rock garden with catmint and groundcover plants like sedum, creeping phlox, ice plant (Delosperma) and small sedges.
Which catmint do cats like?
Questions about catnip. Catmint, also known as catnip (Nepeta cataria), is very popular with our pets. Its smell in toys or on sprayed utensils almost magically attracts velvet paws: It entices them to play, romp around and chase or ensures complete relaxation – as you can see from the pleasant purring of your pet. What is clear, however, is that catmint contains a substance called nepetalactone. Nepetalactone is probably used by the plant as a natural defense against insects and pests. This substance is very similar to the natural sex pheremones of cats. This would also explain why male cats in particular are so fond of catnip.
Which catmint blooms the longest?
Walker’s Low Catmint (Nepeta) Continuous indigo blooms for over five months! Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ – has showy deep blue flowers on tall flower spikes. Walker’s Low’ grows as a neat, non-suckering, well behaved plant and blooms for many months from late spring into mid-summer. Deadheading (shearing off the faded flower spikes just above the foliage) will encourage stronger re-blooming.