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dwarf nepeta

Dwarf nepeta is a fantastic choice for gardeners seeking a low-growing, easy-care perennial that adds a soft, airy touch of blue to garden beds, borders, and containers. With its aromatic silvery-green foliage and abundant clusters of delicate lavender-blue flowers, dwarf nepeta flowers for months, attracting bees and butterflies while deterring browsing rabbits and deer. This compact variety, often growing to just 20–30 cm tall, is perfect for edging pathways or filling small garden spaces, making it a versatile favourite for New Zealand gardens—whether in a classic cottage setting or a contemporary landscape.

A Pittosporum 'Midget' plant in a garden.

Pittosporum 'Midget' (Dwarf Pittosporum)

Pittosporum 'Midget' is a dwarf variety that features foliage made up of small, fresh green leaves. The foliage is complemented with small, purple flowers in spring. It grows with a rounded habit to about 80 cm tall and the same wide. Pittosporum 'Midget' is ideal for adding to mixed and border plantings, maintaining in a container, using to border an entrance, or for planting around outdoor living areas. It's architectural properties that make this a popular choice with landscape designers.

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate
Plant type: Shrubs
Height: 80 cm
Spread: 80 cm
Flowering time: Spring
Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy
Garden uses: Borders, Hedging, Living areas, Parks, Paths & Steps, Patios, Pool areas, Specimen
Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern, Native, Rock
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.

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
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Search dwarf nepeta

Why Choose Dwarf Nepeta?

Dwarf nepeta brings all the benefits of classic catmint, but in a tidy, manageable size. It thrives in New Zealand conditions, withstanding drought, poor soils, and general neglect. Once established, this low-maintenance perennial forms a soft, rolling mound of foliage and bursts into bloom in late spring, often continuing until the first autumn frosts. Dwarf nepeta is ideal for gardeners keen on sustainable practices, as its water-wise nature makes it suitable for xeriscaping and low-water borders.

How to Grow and Care for Dwarf Nepeta

Dwarf nepeta loves a sunny position with well-drained soil. It handles coastal conditions and drought but flourishes with a little mulch and occasional watering in long dry spells. Simply trim back after flowering to encourage fresh growth and further flushes of blooms. Whether planting along paths, spilling from raised beds, or nestling among roses, dwarf nepeta maintains its compact shape and continues to offer nectar for pollinators well into the season.

Great Companions and Related Nepeta Varieties

If you love the look and easy care of dwarf nepeta, consider complementing it with other well-loved catmints. For slightly different hues and heights, explore Nepeta 'Blue Wonder' (Catmint) for a rich blue flower display, or Nepeta faassenii for a rounded, mounding growth habit. For a classic perennial border, try pairing dwarf nepeta with the compact Nepeta mussinii (Catmint), or add height and drama with the stately Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' (Catmint). Those who favour a longer bloom time often opt for Nepeta 'Walkers Low' (Catmint), renowned for its extended flowering season.

Uses for Dwarf Nepeta in the Garden

Dwarf nepeta is tailor-made for the front of borders, rockeries, or even tucked into herb gardens among thyme and lavender. Its pollinator-friendly flowers ensure a lively, buzzing garden, while the fragrant foliage makes it a favourite for sensory gardens and pathways. It’s also a great choice for softening hard landscaping (like paths or pavers) and particularly useful in small gardens or courtyard spaces where every centimetre counts.

Plant a patch of dwarf nepeta for effortless beauty, reliable colour, and all the rewards of catmint in a perfectly petite size. Discover more Nepeta varieties to fill your garden with cottage charm, blooms, and bees.


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