Family: Lamiaceae

This genus comprises over 200 species of perennials, often used formerly as folk medicine. Now mainly grown as groundcover and edging plants, they have attractive flowers and aromatic foliage. Hybrids come in a range of colours.

Species

N. cataria, catmint or catnip, is a perennial with upright, branching stems, growing to 1 m (3 ft). It has gray-green leaves and whorls of white flowers with mauve spots, from late spring to autumn. This sweet-smelling herb is very attractive to cats. The leaves are used for tea.

N. x faassenii is a bushy, clump-forming hybrid growing to around 45 cm (18 in). It has long leaves and masses of small, light lavender-blue flowers throughout summer. There are numerous other hybrids of Nepeta, generally with larger and more colourful flowers than the species.

N. racemosa (Synonym: N. mussinii) is a green bush, growing to 30 cm (12 in) high, with sprays of blue flowers.

Cultivation

Nepeta can be grown in any ordinary, well-drained soil, provided it is planted in a sunny situation. As it can be rather invasive, it should not be grown close to other smaller plants. Cut back dead autumn growth in late winter or early spring when new growth begins, and trim to remove dead stems. Propagate from seed sown in spring, by division in spring, or from cuttings taken from new growth in summer after flowering. Young shoots strike readily in a sandy compost and can be planted out the following spring.

Climate

Zone 3, but zone 4 for N. rac emosa.