nepeta varieties

Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
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Nepeta varieties, commonly known as catmint, are beloved by gardeners across New Zealand for their aromatic foliage, pollinator-friendly flowers, and exceptional versatility in the landscape. Whether you’re looking to edge a border, add colour and texture to a perennial bed, or attract bees and butterflies, there’s a nepeta variety to suit any garden style. With a range of flower colours, growth habits, and blooming periods, nepeta is easy to grow and a reliable performer in a wide range of conditions. Explore some favourite nepeta varieties and discover how you can incorporate catmint into your own garden.

Nepeta 'Blue Wonder' plant with blue flowers.

Nepeta 'Blue Wonder' (Catmint)

Nepeta 'Blue Wonder' is a compact catmint with aromatic silvery green foliage and rich blue flower spikes through the warmer months. The rounded mound adds soft colour to sunny borders without the large spread of taller catmints. It is a compact flowering perennial suited to sunny border fronts, cottage gardens, pollinator planting, and pots.

Buy Nepeta 'Blue Wonder' (Catmint)

From $17.87

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Perennials

Height: 25 cm

Spread: 25 cm

Flowering time: Summer, Autumn

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

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

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.

Buy Calamagrostis 'Overdam'

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, Calamintha, and Nepeta, or related Categories - Grasses, Perennials, and Bush Roses.

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Popular Nepeta Varieties

One of the best aspects of catmint is the diversity available within the Nepeta genus. Each variety brings something unique to the garden, from compact mounds to graceful, sprawling forms. Here are some highly-regarded nepeta varieties:

Nepeta 'Blue Wonder' (Catmint)

Nepeta 'Blue Wonder' (Catmint) is a compact, bushy plant prized for its vivid blue flower spikes and tidy habit. This variety is perfect for edging pathways or planting closer to the front of mixed borders. Its long blooming season ensures continuous colour through spring and summer.

Nepeta faassenii

The classic Nepeta faassenii is celebrated for its finely textured grey-green foliage, which contrasts beautifully with its soft lavender-blue flowers. Its relaxed, mounding growth habit makes it an excellent choice for naturalistic plantings or cottage gardens. Nepeta faassenii thrives in full sun and well-draining soil, making it drought-tolerant and easy to care for.

Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' (Catmint)

Vigorous and imposing, Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' (Catmint) excels as a mid-border feature. It’s known for its arching stems laden with profuse lavender-blue flower spikes. This variety can reach up to 1 metre in height, creating a soft, flowing effect in larger garden beds and attracting bees in abundance.

Nepeta 'Walkers Low' (Catmint)

Well loved for its beautiful form and resilience, Nepeta 'Walkers Low' (Catmint) is a dependable choice for gardeners seeking a tidy yet exuberant catmint. Despite its name, 'Walkers Low' can grow up to 60cm high, with a generous spread, and its flowers have a long season, providing both colour and pollinator support throughout summer.

Calamintha nepeta 'White Cloud'

If you’re after something a little different, Calamintha nepeta 'White Cloud' offers clouds of tiny, pure white flowers above aromatic foliage. Closely related to nepeta, this variety adds a touch of freshness and lightness to any garden setting and pairs beautifully with blue and purple-flowering catmints.

Planting and Caring for Nepeta Varieties

Most nepeta varieties are easy to grow given well-draining soil and a sunny position. They’re highly drought-tolerant once established and require minimal maintenance. Trim back after the first flush of flowers to encourage fresh growth and a second round of blooms. These plants are generally deer and rabbit-resistant, making them an excellent low-maintenance option for both urban and rural gardens.

Enhance Your Garden with Nepeta

With so many attractive nepeta varieties to choose from, it’s easy to find the perfect plant for any garden situation. Whether as a feature, groundcover, or border, catmints will reward you with months of colour and charm. Explore our full range and bring the beauty of nepeta into your own backyard.

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.