Nepeta - Cat Mint

Nepeta, common name Cat Mint, is a perennial herb which is a member of the mint family. It is very easy to grow and has very little bug problems. The Mounding foliage is topped with spike like flowers with exploding with color. Cats are attracted to most varieties of Nepeta. They are very fragrant, both cut and live.

In Northern regions of the blue flowered varieties are used instead of Lavender because Catmint is so hardy and has the similar lavender-blue colored flowers.


Cat Mint has aromatic, soft grey-green foliage. Nepeta has a mounding growth habit, heights very depending on the variety that looks awesome along pathways and as a border plant. If you want a taller variety with a more upright variety “Six Hill Giants” is an excellent choice. As well as being pest and bug resistant Nepeta is also a great choice if you need a deer resistant plant. Cat mint comes in few different colors including blue-lavender, pink and white.


Cat Mint is a classic plant for walk ways and borders; it also softens up plants like Day Lilly’s and Irises that have sharp looking foliage. The lavender-blue varieties like “Six Hill Giants” and “Walker’s Low” go well with perennials with pink and yellow flowers, like as Moonbeam Moonbeam Coreopsis, Black Eyed Susan and Yarrow .


Cat Mint requires very little maintenance, in fact if over fertilized and over water flowered it will develop flimsy foliage and flowers.


Nepeta will re-bloom through out the summer if you cut it back after the blooms start to go by. This perennial is easily dividable in the spring. Cuttings are easily taken off new growth. Usually rooting takes 2 to three weeks.