It’s Called Catmint for a Reason!
I have a large number of ‘Walker’s Low’ Catmint (Nepeta x fassennii ‘Walker’s Low’) in the garden. It’s a beautiful plant, so easy and carefree to grow. Contrary to what you might think, the name does not imply that it is a small plant, it’s named for a place in England. I have a few mature plants that are about 3 ft square each.
Catmint is a tough as nails. It takes just about any kind of soil but thrives in those dry areas where other plants might languish. ‘Walker’s Low’ doesn’t reseed so you don’t have to worry about invasiveness, although it’s very easy to propagate with cuttings if you want more plants. (from what I understand other varieties of catmint may reseed, but I don’t have any so I can’t say first hand if they do). This plant is also unpalatable to deer, which is a huge bonus here at Chiot’s Run.
This plant is also fabulous because it looks good all summer long. With a little pruning it will bloom from spring to frost. It’s carefree, bugs don’t bother it much, bees and other beneficials love it! The only pests that will bother your catmint plant are CATs! It’s called catmint for a reason. I find our outdoor cats sleeping in it all the time. Small branches are also brought in for the indoor cats as well, who spend hours rolling on them on the floor.
I like this plant so much I would love to acquire a few other versions of catmint like ‘Six Hills Giant’, ‘Dawn to Dusk’, and ‘Little Titch’ which is a dwarf variety that I think would make a fabulous ground cover.
Catmint isn’t just a pretty face in the garden, it’s an herb that can be used medicinally for a wide variety of ailments from arthritis to menstrual cramps. I dry a lot of it for tea as it’s calming, helping ease stress, anxiety and insomnia – it’s perfect for nighttime tea. Since it had natural antibiotic properties, it’s also said to help when you have the flu or a cold. I’ve also read that it can help with arthritis since it’s an anti-inflammatory. I mostly use it for evening teas along with chamomile and mint from the garden.
Do you grow catmint in your garden? Do you use it medicinally?
Filed under Herbs | Comments (22)
I grow Nepeta and agree-it’s just a wonderful plant. I don’t use it medicinally, but may try it for tea. The smell is so nice.
to Sue's comment
It also seems to be a mosquito repelling plant! Have you noticed that effect?
to Heather's comment
I just planted some catnip the other day. I hope mine will turn out as big and beautiful as yours! Those blooms are lovely. I don’t have any cats but I couldn’t resist the velvety feel of the leaves!
to Melissa's comment
I’ve been a big fan of catmint for years now! I’ve never noticed a cat lounging in ours but there are quite a few cats that pass by on a regular basis through our yard. A great plant for attracting bees and pollinators.
to Dave's comment
I grow catmint and catnip both but only use the ‘nip medicinally. To me, it is much stronger but makes a great tea for insomnia, as you say. I like the mint because it behaves it’s self well and doesn’t spread but have to corral the ‘nip a bit because it reseeds it’s self so readily. I love them both for various reasons but my cat distinctly prefers the ‘nip.
to Annie's comment
I have catmint ‘Blue Ice’. It’s a dwarf with very pale blue-white flowers. Very pretty.
to Daedre Craig's comment
I do grow Catmint. I have awful clay soil and I am the watering system. Catmint is forgiving of poor soil, high heat and low water. I’m not sure what kind I have. My cats do not love it like yours do. They will get into the cat nip, but usually only when I am working next to it and release scent. The one plant they all love to get into is my Love In The Mist, not sure why they love it so. I have to stick branches in close together through out some of the plants to keep them from crushing all the flowers.
to Margaret's comment
How do you make your tea? Just pull the leaves and dry them? Sounds interesting! We have cat mint, but I have never used it for anything other than being pretty in the garden!
to Three on Grove's comment
Yep, cut the leaves and the flowers and dry. I usually mix them with chamomile and mint for tea. Sometimes I add ginger as well.
to Susy's comment
You cat looks so happy and content
to Brenda's comment
What is the difference between the “mint” and the “nip”? I always buy the catnip plants for my kitties but they usually chew it down to nubs and it doesn’t come back. I have to plant mine in containers as we don’t have a yard (live in the upper level of a condo). They love it!!!
to Vivian's comment
Catmint ‘Nepeta x fassennii’ has a mounding growth habitat with purple flowers, the leaves are bluish and fuzzy. Catmint also has a nice lemony herby scent.
Catnip ‘Nepeta cataria’ has a taller more vigorous plants that can get kind of scraggly. I blooms with basil type blooms with pink white flowers and has a musky type scent.
They both contain the same ingredient (from what I read) that makes cat go crazy – but catnip contains more than catmint. If you can’t keep a catnip plant going in the garden you might be able to keep a catmint. They do love the plant, but they don’t seem to eat it as much – our cats just like to roll in it.
to Susy's comment
I’ve always been hesitant about any kind of mint but this sounds ideal for our garden. Since we’ve put up a fence for a horse (Jason’s) the deer have found another way through the property – straight through the garden! I think I will try some as a deterent. Thanks for the info.
to judym's comment
Something sleeps in the middle of our catmint each year, creating a crater. I suppose it might be a cat, but we never see one in our yard or neighbors’ yards. Is there any other critter that might do so?
to Elisabeth Putnam's comment
Maybe, but it probably is a cat. I find holes in the middle of ours long before I catch our cats sleeping in them.
to Susy's comment
It is probably a raccoon. i have one that keeps flattening my catmint every night..
to Trisha's comment
We have 3 big plants in 2 of our beds, neighbor cats keep wandering by, munch on and roll around in for a few minutes. Our cat, Lucky, just loves it, we take some of her toys and rub them around in the catmint!!
to Darren's comment
I bought walker’s low catmint and placed it in front of my hydrangea to deter dear and produce a contrast color. The deer have not munched on my limelights yet.
to Linda's comment
I’ve found it hard to grow- perhaps because cats or deer eat it but yes it makes a great tea. I can’t remember which kind of Catmint it was but I’m going to try growing it again.
to Cooper D. Rothschild's comment
My cat loves catmint.
I learned to grow it in my terrace, in two pots, so one is available for him, while the other one still growing.
I like to please my feline friend! :-)
to Karl's comment
Love catmint! Is it considered a nitrogen fixing plant? Thanks.
to Carol's comment
Doesn’t really fix nitrogen. If you’re looking to fix nitrogen with a perennial consider false indigo.
to Susy's comment