How to grow catmint – expert advice for this fragrant perennial
Catmint is a great option for gardeners seeking low-maintenance perennial plants
If you are looking for English cottage garden plants, I do not think there is anything better than the scent and sight of catmint tumbling over walls or edging the garden path. With silver-green foliage, attractive perfume, and trumpet-like lilac blooms, catmint is a real performer, earning its place at the front of the garden border.
This aromatic flowering perennial is a favorite of mine, having grown catmint in several gardens where I have worked as a professional gardener. Catmint, or Nepeta, is one of those long-flowering plants that can add color and interest for much of the spring and summer, and with the right care, catmint will not fail to impress both gardeners and cats alike.
Considered one of the best perennials, learning how to grow catmint is relatively straightforward, but there are a few things to know about soil, lighting requirements, and pruning that will ensure that your plants thrive. Here, garden experts share top tips to guarantee catmint success.
How to grow catmint
With scented foliage and flowers, catmint is a reliable plant for the backyard. This low-growing plant will form attractive and colorful clumps in the backyard, returning year after year. The common name, catmint, is a result of this plant attracting cats, so be warned, you might soon be attracting members of the local feline community to your yard.
What to know about catmint
Catmint is a hardy and versatile flowering plant. 'Growing well in US hardiness zone 3 to US hardiness zone 8, catmint grows best in a sunny spot in the yard,' says Gail Pabst, gardening expert and Marketing Director for the National Garden Bureau.
Native to parts of Europe, Africa and Asia, Nepeta is a popular perennial, with different varieties grown in garden borders and containers across the world. One of the most popular and most used varieties is Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low', available as starter plants from Walmart. I have planted and grown this variety myself, and with the right care it flowers right through until fall.
'With the right maintenance, catmint will produce abundant summer flowers,' Gail adds. 'The trick is to know when to prune catmint at just the right time to encourage new growth.' Pruning in late winter or spring is generally recommended, but deadheading and trimming flower stems during the growing season can also help to encourage continued growth.
Gail is a passionate horticulturist with over 25 years' experience in the industry. She is an avid home gardener too and loves to try out the newest varieties and techniques. Gail is the Marketing Director for the National Garden Bureau and her work has helped her to continue their mission of inspiring, teaching and growing in gardening with others.
How to grow catmint
- Soil: Catmint, or Nepeta, must have free-draining soil. I have grown these Mediterranean plants in two different gardens when working as a gardener in Italy, and these plants tend to thrive in well-draining, loose, almost rocky soils. I would avoid planting catmint in heavy, clay-based soils, or any borders prone to waterlogging during the winter or spring.
- Light: 'Catmint plants need sunshine, and lots of it,' says Mike Murphy, garden expert and owner at You Had Me At Gardening. While these perennials can tolerate partial shade, 'yards in full sun will see the best results.'
- Watering: If you are looking to conserve water, catmint is a good perennial to plant. Considered drought-tolerant planting, catmint can grow fine with relatively little water during the spring and summer, as is common for plants with silver foliage. As with any newly planted perennials, I recommend watering at least once per week during spring and summer for the first year, just while they establish their root system.
- Fertilizing: Catmint is one of those plants that thrives on neglect. I would not advise fertilizing catmint, and this perennial grows just fine in nutrient-poor soils. One of the most common fertilizing mistakes is feeding plants when they do not need it, and with catmint, it is sensible to put the fertilizer back in the garden shed. For a boost, I would suggest annually mulching your borders in the fall or winter, which can help to improve the quality of your beds and provide everything that your perennials need. Mulch is available to buy online from Walmart.
- Pruning: 'March is the best time to prune catmint,' Mike continues. 'The trick is to prune your catmint plants just as new growth is beginning to emerge in spring.' Mike also recommends trimming your plants during the growing season, typically around May or June, to 'encourage vigorous growth and a second flowering later in the season.'
Mike grew up gardening with his parents and grandparents. He enjoys his backyard orchard of dwarf fruit trees, raspberry and blackberry patches, and raised garden boxes. In addition to his perennials, Mike enjoys sprouting new fruit and vegetable seeds every spring.
This catmint is prized for producing a mass of purple blooms for much of the spring and summer. What's more, pollinators will love it.
FAQs
Can you grow catmint in pots?
Yes, catmint can be grown in pots, which is a good idea for those gardeners with smaller yards. While catmint is a drought-tolerant perennial, plants grown in pots will require more water than if they were grown in the ground, so monitoring watering requirements is important during the summer months.
Catmint is a low-maintenance perennial that is sure to add color and fragrance to any yard. For more information about using fragrant perennials, see our guide on how to design a fragrant garden, and fill your outside space with perfume this year.
Sign up to the Homes & Gardens newsletter
Design expertise in your inbox – from inspiring decorating ideas and beautiful celebrity homes to practical gardening advice and shopping round-ups.
Thomas is a Content Editor within the Gardens Team at Homes and Gardens. He has worked as a professional gardener in gardens across the UK and Italy, specializing in productive gardening, growing food and flowers. Trained in Horticulture at the Garden Museum, London, he has written on gardening and garden history for various publications in the UK, including The English Garden, Gardens Illustrated, Hortus, The London Gardener and Bloom. He has co-authored a Lonely Planet travel book, The Tree Atlas, due out in 2024.
-
How to save energy when doing laundry – 9 ways to cut costs and be more sustainable
Sustainable cleaning experts and energy pro share their tips on lowering your energy bills when washing and drying
By Ottilie Blackhall Published
-
Best hardwood cuttings to take in fall – 5 plants to start propagating now
Propagating from hardwood cuttings is one of the most rewarding ways to grow more plants for free
By Tenielle Jordison Published
-
What to do with hibiscus in the fall – expert advice to prepare for the winter months
How to care for these flowering shrubs to prepare them for the coldest time of year
By Thomas Rutter Published
-
Should you deadhead chrysanthemums in fall? Here's why it's a good idea to cut back these blooms before winter
Deadheading is a key task for many flowering plants and getting the timing right is vital for future growth
By Tenielle Jordison Published
-
How and when to prune monkey grass – expert advice for this part-shade perennial
Trimming this shade-tolerant perennial at the right time will keep your plants in good health and your yard tidy
By Thomas Rutter Published
-
How to grow Texas sage – for a native evergreen shrub with pretty pink blooms
With silver foliage and masses of flowers, this unusual native shrub will add something different to your borders
By Thomas Rutter Published
-
Bottlebrush tree problems – 3 expert-approved solutions to common garden woes
Yellow leaves? Damaged stems? Our guide will help you to keep your bottlebrush tree in good health
By Thomas Rutter Published
-
How to grow firebush plants – for a native shrub that hummingbirds adore
By learning how to grow the firebush shrub you can easily attract spring pollinators to your yard
By Thomas Rutter Published
-
How to grow blue fescue grass – for an unusual plant with striking blue blades
This tough ornamental grass is the perfect plant to grow for a cool and calm planting scheme
By Thomas Rutter Published
-
How to divide bleeding heart – for more of these unique, vibrant perennials
It's easy to multiply these striking blooms so you can grow more in your yard for free
By Tenielle Jordison Published