Catmints are fast-growing, versatile plants that are easy to grow.
When they first begin growing in spring, they form tidy mounds of new foliage.
They quickly grow outward and begin to set their buds for their flower show.
Credit:Carson Downing
The show is spectacular and lasts for weeks.
In addition to their beauty, the flowers are asource of nectarfor many pollinators.
Use shorter types of catmint as an edging plant along a path or border garden.
Credit:Grant Webster
Taller varieties make low-maintenance additions to mixed perennial beds.
Remove the plant from its pot and gently tease the outer roots free from the soil.
Place in the hole and backfill with soil, patting it down as you do so.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Water to settle the soil.
Space catmint plants 1 to 3 feet apart, depending on the mature size of your chosen variety.
Water new plants regularly during the first year.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Even in heavy clay soil, catmint will thrive.
However, the plant will appreciate some organic matter likecompost mixed into the soiland regular watering.
Fertilizer
There’s no need to fertilize catmint at all.
Credit: Denny Schrock
In fact, the plant tends to flop over and split when the soil is too rich.
Pruning
Once their flowering spectacle is complete, many catmints tend to flop open.
However, you’re free to easily remedy this bygiving the plants a good cutback.
Credit: Denny Schrock
This often encourages a new flush of growth and a second round of flowers.
How to Propagate Catmint
The best way topropagate existing plants is through divisionduring the spring growing season.
Use a sharp shovel to cut a section of the plant with a good root system and replant it.
Credit:Denny Schrock
you could alsopropagate through cuttings taken in spring.
Plant the rooted cutting into the garden and water well.
Types of Catmint
Some species of catmint can become weedy in a garden setting.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
It blooms almost constantly from late spring through fall.
Faassen’s Catmint
Nepetafaasseniiis atough perennial herbthat thrives in hot, dry weather.
Plants feature mounding sprays of silvery-green foliage with a flush of blue flowers.
Credit: Bob Stefko
Deadhead or cut back after the first flush of bloom to encourage more flowers.
It grows 1 to 2 feet tall and spreads up to 2 feet wide.
Japanese Catmint
Nepetasubsessilisbears the largest flower clusters of any catmint.
Credit: Bob Stefko
Sturdy stems keep the plant from requiring staking or shearing to maintain its strong upright habit.
Like other catmints, it has a long season of bloom.
This species self-seeds readily in the garden and can become weedyif it’s not deadheaded regularly.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Persian catmint is exceptionally cold-hardy.
Peony
Perhaps thebest-loved perennial, herbaceous peonies (Paeonia lactiflora) are a garden classic.
‘Moonshine’ Yarrow
Like catmint, yarrow (Achillea spp.)
thrives in heat and full sun.
It’s also not picky about soil and doesn’t demand much water.
‘Moonshine’ is a well-behaved variety that doesn’t reseed and spread itself around.
Bee Balm
Bee balm(Monardaspp.)
is a magnet for hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Look for newer varieties that offer compact size and good disease resistance.
Both plants produce a chemical called nepetalactone, which triggers the response in cats.
However, catmint produces a much smaller amount than catnip, so it isn’t as attractive to cats.
Every three or four years, divide catmint plants to keep them vigorous.
Spring or early fall are the best times to divide these plants.
There’s a chance that cats will destroy catmint.
The smell of catmint is overpowering for mice, so it should keep them away from your garden.
Catmint will also repel certain mosquitoes, ticks, spiders, and beetles.
