nepeta catmint

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

Nepeta catmint is a beloved perennial for New Zealand gardens, known for its delightful soft blue-lavender flowers, fragrant foliage, and effortless charm. Perfect for borders, cottage gardens, or pollinator-friendly plantings, catmint is celebrated for its ability to attract bees and butterflies while being highly resilient and easy to grow. Whether you're looking to create a lush ground cover or add colour to your landscape, nepeta catmint is an excellent option. Its silvery-green leaves and profuse blooms bring a fresh, airy look that complements roses or other flowering companions beautifully.

Calamagrostis 'Overdam'

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Calamagrostis ‘Overdam’ is a striking variegated ornamental grass that delivers elegant upright form and delicate texture to garden borders and landscaping. With green and creamy-white striped foliage and feathery plumes in summer, this clump-forming grass is both functional and decorative.

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From $19.95

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Grasses

Height: 90 cm

Spread: 50 cm

Flowering time: Summer, Autumn, Winter

Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy, Wind

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

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

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

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Why Choose Nepeta Catmint?

Nepeta catmint stands out as an adaptable perennial that thrives in full sun and well-drained soils. Drought-tolerant once established, it’s ideal for gardeners seeking low-maintenance, long-season interest. Regular deadheading encourages repeat flowering, and the aromatic foliage helps repel unwanted garden pests. Popular for edging pathways and filling gaps in borders, catmint provides a soft, cascading effect.

For those interested in specific varieties, Nepeta faassenii is renowned for its compact habit and extended flowering period. This makes it a favourite for mass planting and container displays.

Top Varieties of Nepeta Catmint

There are several outstanding nepeta catmint cultivars that each offer their own unique charm:

Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' (Catmint): As its name suggests, this variety forms impressive, tall mounds of silvery foliage topped by clouds of blue flowers. It's fantastic for large borders and blends beautifully with ornamental grasses.
Nepeta mussinii (Catmint): This smaller, more delicate species is ideal for edging and rock gardens, offering masses of soft blue blooms and a fine texture.
Nepeta 'Walkers Low' (Catmint): Valued for its low, spreading habit and prolific flowering. "Walkers Low" is particularly well-suited for informal paths and perennial borders.
Nepeta 'Blue Wonder' (Catmint): With its vivid blue flowers and compact form, "Blue Wonder" lends a striking pop of colour to any planting scheme.

Planting and Care Tips

Nepeta catmint is truly forgiving. Plant in a sunny spot with average to dry soil, and it will reward you with continuous blooms from late spring into autumn. Regularly cut back spent flowers to maintain a tidy appearance and promote new growth. While it thrives on neglect, occasional feeding can encourage robust development, especially in sandy soils. Catmint pairs beautifully with roses, lavenders, and other drought-resistant perennials for a layered, abundant garden.

Nepeta Catmint: Uses in the Garden

Beyond its beauty, nepeta catmint is highly practical. It’s perfect as a border edging, ground cover, or pollinator magnet. Its aromatic leaves are often used in herbal teas or for feline enjoyment, as cats are famously attracted to catmint’s scent. Its resilience and versatility ensure it will become a staple in your garden design, providing colour and texture year after year.

Explore our range of nepeta catmint varieties—including Nepeta faassenii, Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' (Catmint), Nepeta mussinii (Catmint), Nepeta 'Walkers Low' (Catmint), and Nepeta 'Blue Wonder' (Catmint)—to find the perfect addition for your New Zealand garden.

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.

We love Buxus sempervirens (Boxwood) and Schefflera arboricola as much as anyone, but part of the fun is discovering Prunus Kiku Shidare Zakura, Sophora chathamica, and Leucadendron 'Harvest'.

–The Plant Company