catmint varieties

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

Looking to fill your New Zealand garden with long-lasting colour, bee and pollinator activity, and stunning fragrance? Exploring catmint varieties is a rewarding journey for both experienced gardeners and beginners. Renowned for their resilience, soft grey-green foliage, and spires of blue, purple, or lavender blooms, catmints (Nepeta species) are versatile perennials that thrive in a range of Kiwi conditions. Whether edging a sunny border, softening pathways, or creating low-maintenance ground cover, catmint varieties offer a solution for nearly every sunny spot.

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

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Nepeta and Rose, or related Categories - Perennials and Bush Roses.

Search catmint

Popular Catmint Varieties for New Zealand Gardens

With so many options, it’s helpful to discover the unique traits that distinguish different catmint varieties. Here’s a closer look at some garden favourites you’ll find in our nursery:

Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' (Catmint)

One of the tallest catmint varieties, Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' (Catmint), forms lush, upright mounds reaching up to 90cm in height. Its generous sprays of violet-blue flowers bloom from late spring well into autumn. This variety is ideal for larger borders or as a relaxed informal hedge. It’s robust, drought-tolerant, and a magnet for bees.

Nepeta 'Blue Wonder' (Catmint)

Nepeta 'Blue Wonder' (Catmint) is beloved for its compact habit, perfect for edging and smaller spaces. The rich blue flowers and aromatic foliage make this variety a standout in mixed perennial plantings. Excellent for containers or mass plantings, it thrives on little care but provides months of attractive colour.

Nepeta 'Walkers Low' (Catmint)

A favourite among landscape designers, Nepeta 'Walkers Low' (Catmint) has a graceful, arching habit, with spikes of lavender-blue flowers that seem to spill over paths or walls. Its tidy growth and prolific blooming make it one of the most reliable catmint varieties for repeat colour and structure, even in exposed or dry positions.

Nepeta mussinii (Catmint)

Known for its lower, spreading growth, Nepeta mussinii (Catmint) creates a mat of finely textured foliage topped with soft blue-lavender flowers. This variety is an excellent choice for suppressing weeds or softening the base of roses and shrubs. Easy to divide and move, it’s a top pick for naturalistic, cottage, or Mediterranean-inspired plantings.

Nepeta faassenii

For an all-rounder in smaller beds, Nepeta faassenii brings a low, neat mound of grey foliage and clouds of long-flowering blue blooms. Highly resistant to drought and robust in poor soils, this variety reliably fills ground-level gaps while deterring pests and attracting beneficial pollinators.

Which Catmint Variety Is Right for You?

When choosing among catmint varieties, consider garden size, sunlight, soil, and intended use. Taller types like Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' (Catmint) make structural statements, while compact forms such as Nepeta 'Blue Wonder' (Catmint) suit edging and pots. Most catmints are low-maintenance, coping well with New Zealand’s climate and rewarding you with sustained colour and delightful fragrance.

Discover the best catmint varieties for your garden and enjoy easy-care beauty season after season. Explore our full range online or visit us for expert advice tailored to Kiwi growers.

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.