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

catmint in containers

Looking to add vibrant colour, fragrance, and pollinator appeal to your patio, balcony, or garden? Growing catmint in containers is an easy, rewarding way to liven up your outdoor living spaces. These versatile, hardy plants are a favourite among New Zealand gardeners for their relaxed, cascading habit, aromatic foliage, and pastel blue or lavender blooms. Whether you have a sprawling deck or a compact city courtyard, catmint thrives in pots, making it a perfect choice for creating lush, low-maintenance container displays.

Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' green foliage and blue flowers.

Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' (Catmint)

Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' is a vigorous perennial prized for its aromatic foliage and abundant lavender blue flowers that bloom from late spring through summer. Taller than most Catmints, this variety creates a soft, flowing effect in NZ gardens, attracting bees and butterflies in abundance. Its drought tolerance and low maintenance needs make it ideal for both cottage and modern landscapes. 'Six Hills Giant' delivers colour, fragrance, and resilience with ease.

Buy Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' (Catmint)

From $18.83

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Perennials

Height: 50 cm

Spread: 75 cm

Flowering time: Summer, Autumn

Tolerances: Hardy

Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas

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

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

Why Grow Catmint in Containers?

Catmint’s relaxed, mounded form looks stunning spilling over the edge of pots. In containers, catmint remains compact and manageable, making it ideal for urban spaces or gardens where ground planting isn’t an option. Container planting also helps control spreading, as some Nepeta varieties can self-seed or spread vigorously in open beds. With the right pot and soil, you’ll enjoy months of flowers from late spring to autumn, as well as a reliable refuge for bees and butterflies.

Best Varieties of Catmint for Containers

Not all catmints are created equal when it comes to container gardening—some stand out for their compact growth, flower power, and easy care.

Nepeta 'Walkers Low' (Catmint): A classic choice, this award-winning variety forms dense mounds and produces long-lasting bluish-purple flower spikes that attract beneficial insects.
Nepeta mussinii (Catmint): A compact, bushy plant with fragrant leaves and masses of violet-blue blooms—a standout in pots.
Nepeta 'Blue Wonder' (Catmint): Known for its rich blue flowers, this low-growing variety creates a vivid show in containers.
Nepeta faassenii: One of the most popular types, perfect for pots thanks to its mounded shape and soft, grey-green foliage.
Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' (Catmint): If you’d like a taller, fuller look, this variety brings impressive height and plentiful blooms—even in generous-sized pots.

How to Plant Catmint in Containers

Choose a pot with good drainage holes, at least 30cm wide, filled with a free-draining potting mix. Place your catmint in full sun for best flowering, and water regularly until established—after which catmint becomes drought-tolerant and easy care. A slow-release fertiliser in early spring will encourage strong growth and prolific blooms. To keep your catmint in containers looking its best, trim back spent flower stems or shape the plant lightly after blooms fade.

Container Display Ideas

Catmint shines on its own but also makes a great companion plant. Pair it with dwarf roses, salvias, or ornamental grasses for a striking, dynamic display. Its silvery leaves and softly billowing habit offer a soothing contrast to bold flowers or upright forms. With its gentle, aromatic foliage, catmint in containers can create a sensory oasis close to decks, patios, or windows.

Enjoy the Benefits of Catmint in Pots

Growing catmint in containers is an inspired way to enjoy this classic perennial, whether you’re craving colour by the door, fragrance on the balcony, or a pollinator haven in a small city space. Browse our range of beautiful catmints, including Nepeta 'Walkers Low' (Catmint), Nepeta mussinii (Catmint), and more, and transform your space with easy-care blooms that thrive in pots, tubs, or planters.

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.