How to Grow Catmint

With origins in Turkey, Caucaus and the Middle East, catmint (Nepeta spp.) is an herbaceous perennial with small, gray-green foliage. It grows in dry locations in full sun to partial shade in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8. Use catmint as a ground cover, in rock gardens or as an edging plant where it emits its fragrance when it is touched. Catmint is deer resistant, but attracts butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.

Garden spade or rototiller

Hand spade

Long-handled pruning shears

Prepare soil for planting catmint by turning soil over a spade's depth deep, or rototill the planting bed.

Plant catmint in fall or spring in well-draining or drought-prone locations in soil with low fertility, as a rich environment tends to produce tall, lanky, sprawling growth.

Catmint plants grow wider than they grow tall. To create a ground cover, space smaller varieties, which grow up to 18 inches tall, 12 inches apart, and space taller varieties, which grow up to 3-feet tall, 36 inches apart.

Do not fertilize catmint.

Pour water in the planting hole to ensure moisture in the root zone.

When the water has seeped into the ground, place the roots of the catmint plant in the ground, and backfill the hole with soil.

Press the soil firmly around the plant to ensure there are no air spaces in the planting hole.

Mulch newly planted catmint with a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch such as pine straw or wood chips to keep the soil cool and to conserve moisture while plants become established. Keep mulch from touching the base of the stems.

Keep catmint moist during the first growing season and the first winter. Watering frequency depends upon weather conditions, such as heat and wind. Irrigate to keep the soil moist to a depth of 18 inches.

Reduce watering frequency the second summer, but do not allow plants to wilt. After the second season, your catmint should be well-established and able to withstand periods of drought.

Cut catmint back, using long-handled pruning shears, by one-half to two-thirds after the first flush of bloom to encourage bushier, more compact growth and another flush of flowers. Although shearing keeps catmint tidy and encourages heavier flowering, catmint blooms sporadically all summer without shearing, just not as prolifically.

To prevent the spread of disease, disinfect your pruning shears before cutting back your catmint. For 5 minutes, soak your shears in a disinfecting solution of 1 part bleach or pine oil cleaner to 3 parts water. Rinse shears with clear water, or air dry them before use.

Cut catmint back close to the ground in winter or early spring, depending upon your climate. In mild climates where it seldom, if ever, frosts, you can cut catmint back during the winter months to prevent clumps from developing woody centers. In colder climates, wait until spring, so the old stems and foliage can protect the crowns from winter's harshness.

Divide catmint plants every three or four years in spring or early fall to prevent crowding and to keep the plants vigorous.

Out of 36 catmints studied, the Chicago Botanic Garden selected four top performers:

Nepata 'Joanna Reed' -- which grows 24 inches tall and spreads 48 inches wide. Flowers are lavender blue.

Nepata 'Six Hills Giant' -- which grows 30 inches tall and spreads 48 inches wide. Flowers are lavender blue.

Nepata x faassenii 'Select Blue' -- which grows 14 inches tall and spreads 30 inches wide. Flowers are lavender.

Nepata racemosa 'Walker's Low' -- which grows 30 inches tall and spreads 36 inches wide. Flowers are lavender blue.