catmint flower

Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
Price range: Contact Us
Rating: 4.8/5

If you’re searching for a beautiful, resilient perennial to bring bees and butterflies into your New Zealand garden, the catmint flower is a top contender. With its clouds of lavender-blue blooms, aromatic foliage, and easy-going nature, catmint adds colour, movement, and a touch of wild charm to borders, pots, and cottage-style plantings. Whether you’re an avid gardener or just getting started, catmint flower varieties promise season-long interest with minimal fuss.

Rose 'Desiree'

Rose 'Desiree' is a beautifully refined rose known for soft pastel blooms, gentle fragrance and repeat flowering through the warmer months in New Zealand gardens. This lovely cultivar produces full classic roses on strong stems ideal for cutting and display. With healthy growth glossy foliage and long seasonal performance, Rose 'Desiree' brings romance and timeless floral charm to borders cottage gardens and outdoor living spaces.

Buy Rose 'Desiree'

From $63.38

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Rose Plants

Height: 1.00 m

Spread: 1.00 m

Flowering time: Spring, Summer, Autumn

Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Paths & Steps

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern

Strelitzia Mandelas Gold (Yellow Crane Flower)

Strelitzia reginae Mandelas Gold, commonly known as Yellow Crane Flower or Yellow Bird Of Paradise, produces spectacular yellow flowers through spring and summer. The flowers are complemented with large and lush, dark green leaves as it grows to 1.5 m tall and the same wide. Strelitzia Mandelas Gold is commonly included in tropical plantings, planted around pools and other outdoor living areas, used to line an entranceway, or maintained in a container.

Buy Strelitzia Mandelas Gold (Yellow Crane Flower)

From $83.63

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Perennials

Height: 1.50 m

Spread: 1.50 m

Flowering time: Spring, Summer

Tolerances: Coastal

Garden uses: Containers, Living areas, Pool areas

Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Tropical

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Chaenomeles, Phaedranthus Rose and Strelitzia, or related Categories - Evergreen Climbers, Perennials, Bush Roses Carpet Roses and Deciduous Shrubs.

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What Is a Catmint Flower?

Catmint flower describes the attractive spires and clusters of blooms produced by plants from the Nepeta genus. These flowers usually appear in shades of blue, purple, or lilac, often contrasting beautifully with grey-green foliage. Among the best-loved catmint varieties in New Zealand gardens is Nepeta mussinii (Catmint), known for its compact growth and prolific flowering from late spring right through to autumn.

Why Grow Catmint Flower?

Catmint flower plants are famed for their resilience and versatility. Here’s why New Zealand gardeners love catmint: - Long Flowering Season: Few perennials match catmint for persistent blooms. Varieties such as Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' (Catmint) deliver masses of colourful flower spikes from November well into late summer. - Pollinator Friendly: The catmint flower is a favourite of bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects, making it ideal for wildlife gardens. - Drought Tolerant: Once established, catmint copes well with dry conditions and poor soils—perfect for low maintenance gardens. - Versatile Uses: Catmint blends beautifully with formal and informal planting schemes. Its relaxed habit softens the edges of paths, borders, and makes a fine underplanting for roses like Rose 'Desiree'.

Best Catmint Flower Varieties for NZ Gardens

With so many lovely options, choosing the right catmint flower variety for your space is easy:

Nepeta 'Walkers Low' (Catmint): One of the most popular choices for New Zealand gardens, prized for its neat mound of silver leaves and waves of violet-blue flowers.
Nepeta 'Blue Wonder' (Catmint): A compact form that’s great for edging paths or brightening containers, flowering prolifically from late spring.
Nepeta mussinii (Catmint): Famed for easy growth and a haze of blue blooms, this variety is especially effective when planted en masse.

How to Grow Catmint Flower

Catmint flower is wonderfully undemanding. Plant in full sun for the best show, although varieties like Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' (Catmint) will also tolerate partial shade. Drainage is vital—catmint dislikes soggy soils. Give your plants a gentle trim after their first flush of blooms to encourage more flowers and a tidy shape. Catmint rarely suffers from pests or diseases, making it a smart choice for organic and wildlife-friendly gardens.

Pairing Catmint Flower in the Garden

The soft blues and purples of the catmint flower create a dreamy palette when teamed with pink roses like Rose 'Desiree', silvers, and whites. Try weaving catmint among lavenders, salvias, or ornamental grasses for a layered, textured effect that lasts from spring till autumn.

Catmint flower isn’t just beautiful—it’s a practical, rewarding performer for New Zealand gardens, offering lasting colour and charm. Discover the perfect variety for your space today!

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.