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. VIDEO Created by Homegrown featuring Mark Weathington , Director of JC Raulston Arboretum More information on Nepeta .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.