Nepeta
( NEP - et - uh )
At-A-Glance InformationThese perennial members of the Mint family need full sun to partial shade and moderate water. Their flowers will attract bees to your garden and come in blue, blue-violet, white, pink, and yellow. They are vigorous, and spread freely. Foliage is aromatic and they make attractive informal low hedges or edgings for beds.
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Nepeta Species and Varietals
The best growing zones for Nepeta are 1-24, but this varies somewhat depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Nepeta cataria (Catnip) This native of the Mediterranean and western Asia reaches 2-3 feet tall and just as wide. Leaves are somewhat fuzzy and grey-green and it sends up spikes of pink or white flowers in late spring and early summertime. It likes light soil and will self-sow easily. The common name of this species refers to its effect on cats. |
Nepeta x faasenii (Catmint) This sterile hybrid has silvery grey-green foliage and reaches a foot tall and 1.5-2 feet wide. Flowers are lavender-blue and bloom in late spring and early summertime. Cats like this plant as well. If grown as a groundcover, space 1.5 feet apart. Varieties include 'Select Blue' (with darker lavender flowers) and 'Snowflake' (with pure white flowers). |
Nepeta grandiflora This species is native to Europe and the Caucasus, reaching 2.5 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide. Foliage is grey-green and flowers are violet-blue, popping in late spring and early summertime. Varieties include 'Bramdean' (with lavender-blue flowers) and 'Dawn to Dusk' (pictured; with lilac-pink flowers and smokey violet calyxes). |
Nepeta racemosa (Nepeta mussinii) This plant is native to the Caucasus, Turkey and Iran and grows to be 6 inches to a foot tall and 2 feet wide or more. Leaves range in color from green to grey-green and are hairy. The flowers on this species are lavender, and bloom over a short season in midsummer. If sheared, a second bloom can be encouraged. Reseeds freely and vigorously. |
Nepeta reichenbachiana This species is native to Armenia and the Caucasus and creates a thick, low mound of foliage 1 foot tall and 2-4 feet wide. Leaves are pale green on top and white underneath. Flowers are deep blue and pop from late spring through fall. This species makes a great groundcover (space plants 3 feet apart for best coverage). |
Nepeta sibirica (Nepeta macrantha, Dracocephalum sibiricum) (Siberian Catnip) This species of Nepeta is native to Siberia and is a sturdy, upright plant with hairy leaves and violet-blue blossoms that bloom in early summer for only a month. Varieties include 'Six Hills Giant' (with deeper blue flowers on a plant that reaches 1.5-3 feet tall and wide) and 'Souvenir d'Andre Chaudron' (pictured; also known as 'Blue Beauty', which reaches 1.5 feet tall and wide and blooms through late summertime). |
Caring for Nepeta
Propagation
Problems and Pests
Gallery
Videos
A video all about growing camellias successfully
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Propagating camellias
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 454 - 455, Nepeta
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