Quck answer
Catmint, also known as Nepeta, is a herbaceous perennial plant that is easy to grow. It thrives in well-drained soil and prefers full sun to partial shade. To grow catmint, start by selecting a suitable location in your garden. Prepare the soil by removing any weeds and adding organic matter. Plant the catmint seeds or seedlings in the prepared soil, ensuring they are spaced apart. Water the plants regularly, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Prune the plants after flowering to encourage bushier growth. With proper care and maintenance, your catmint plants will flourish and add beauty to your garden.
Mint plants have gained a reputation for being invasive, but this is not the case with catmint (Nepeta spp., USDA zones 3-8). Catmint is a low-maintenance plant that can be easily controlled as it does not spread through seeds. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about it taking over your garden like other mint plants.
Additionally, growing catmint will not attract unwanted cats to your garden, unless you specifically plant catnip (Nepeta cataria, zones 3-9). Catmint is a great choice for beginner gardeners as it is a resilient perennial with few pests. It boasts a long blooming season, producing beautiful lilac, pink, blue, and white flowers on tall stems up to 3 feet in height. The plant also features delicate, aromatic gray-green leaves.
Popular Uses for Catmint
Catmint plants, which spread 2 to 3 feet wide, are commonly used for ornamental purposes or to fill empty spaces in gardens. Due to its hardiness, catmint is often planted in challenging areas such as rock gardens or heavy clay soils where other plants struggle to grow. Catmint adds a charming, cottage-garden aesthetic to the landscape. However, it can become leggy, so it is best to avoid using it in formal gardens.
Catmint is drought-tolerant and attracts beneficial insects like bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds. Its minty leaves also act as a natural repellent for rabbits, voles, and deer, making it an ideal choice for areas where these animals cause garden issues. Additionally, its pleasant scent makes it suitable for planting near patios and outdoor seating areas.
How to Cultivate Catmint
- Common Name: Catmint
- Botanical Name: Nepeta spp.
- Planting Time: Spring, after the last frost
- USDA Zones: 3-8
- Sun Exposure: Full or partial sun
- Soil Type: Moist, well-drained soil is preferred, but the plant is not picky
- Troubleshooting: Holes in leaves, discolored leaf spots
- Signs of Thriving: Strong, upright stems and leggy growth
Starting Catmint from a Seedling
While catmint can be easily grown from seeds, it is not recommended due to its potential to self-seed and become invasive. Instead, it is better to obtain sterile catmint plants from nurseries through cuttings or division. Varieties like Faassen’s catmint (Nepeta x faassenii) do not self-sow and will enhance your garden without taking over.
To plant catmint, make sure to dig a hole large enough to cover the entire root ball. Space the plants about 2 feet apart for proper air circulation. If your soil is deficient, you can add compost before planting, but it’s not necessary. After planting, water the catmint gently and mulch around the plants to reduce weeds and preserve soil moisture.
Catmint grows best in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 8. However, the specific variety you choose will depend on your location. ‘Blue Wonder’ catmint is hardy in zones 3 through 8, but may not survive in colder zones. If you live in a colder area, choose a more cold-hardy cultivar.
If you’re unsure about the suitable catmint for your area, consult your local garden center or cooperative extension service. They can provide recommendations based on your location. When purchasing plants online, read the descriptions carefully to ensure they will grow well in your area.
You can plant catmint in the spring after the last frost or during the summer or early fall. Spring or summer planting is ideal to allow the plant to establish before winter. Avoid planting too close to winter as it increases the risk of losing the plants.
Catmint thrives in full sun but can tolerate some afternoon shade, especially in warm areas. Keep the soil consistently moist during the first season, but avoid overwatering. Once established, catmint is drought-tolerant and usually doesn’t require additional watering. Ensure proper drainage to prevent waterlogged soil.
Avoid fertilizing catmint as it can cause the plants to become floppy and ungainly. If necessary, cut back the plant to solve this issue. After the first bloom, cutting back the plant by a third will promote more flowers. Leave the withered leaves on the plant during late fall or early winter to provide insulation. Remove the plant debris in spring when the plant starts growing again.
After about four years, catmint may start to look run-down. To rejuvenate the plants, dig them up and divide them. This will restore their youthful vigor.
How to Multiply Catmint
There are two methods to multiply catmint plants. One option is to take a cutting. This should be done in the spring by cutting a healthy stem that is approximately 4 inches long from the plant. Remove any leaves from the cutting and plant it in loose soil or sand. It is optional to dip the cutting in rooting compound, as catmint can form roots well without it.
Another way to multiply catmint is by dividing a plant in the spring. Dig up the parent plant and make a vertical cut through the root ball. Each division should have a good clump of roots and at least three or four stems. Once divided, the plant can be replanted with the divisions about a foot apart, placed in a new area, or given to someone who wants to grow catmint.
Image Credit:
ninglu/iStock/GettyImages
How to Harvest Catmint
While most home gardeners grow catmint for its aesthetics, the plant’s leaves are actually edible. If you want to try eating catmint, cut a few leaves from the top of the plant as the flowers begin to bloom in the spring. Dry the leaves and store them in an airtight container.
These dried catmint leaves can be used to make tea or add flavor to soups and sauces. Catmint has also been used by herbalists to alleviate coughs, congestion, and menstrual cramps. However, it is important to consult a doctor before using catmint as a medication.
Common Pests and Other Issues for Catmint
While humans enjoy the minty smell and taste of catmint leaves, most pests, including animals and insects, do not. Thrips are an exception to this rule. If you spot them on your plants, using insecticidal soap will effectively eliminate them.
Aphids, cabbage loopers, squash bugs, and other common garden pests typically do not bother catmint. You can take advantage of this by planting catmint next to plants that insects are attracted to, in hopes of keeping them away.
Common Diseases for Catmint
Overall, catmint is a relatively disease-free plant, but there are a few things to watch out for. One of them is blight, which is caused by a fungus and results in small yellow-ringed dots on the plant’s leaves. The best way to combat blight is to maintain a clean garden and remove infected plants immediately to prevent further spread.
In cooler regions, bacterial leaf spot can be a problem. Once plants are infected, there is no cure except to remove and destroy them. Similar to blight, practicing good garden hygiene usually keeps bacterial leaf spot under control. The same is true for septoria leaf spot, which causes round gray or black dots on leaves starting with older foliage and eventually spreading to the entire plant.
Root rot can also affect catmint, but only if the plant is sitting in waterlogged soil. To prevent root rot, plant catmint in well-draining areas and avoid overwatering.
