Plants
Catmint
Nepeta · Lamiaceae
Catmint is lavender for everyone whose lavender refuses to cooperate: blue-violet clouds of flowers above silver-grey aromatic foliage, months of bloom and a toughness that forgives even difficult beds. Bees and bumblebees practically queue up, and many cats fall completely for the scent. For us, one of the most reliable border perennials there is — and completely non-toxic.
- Light
- Full sun; in partial shade it flowers less and flops apart more easily.
- Watering
- Low — water only while establishing and in extreme drought.
- Care level
- Easy
- Botanical
- Nepeta
The most important garden varieties are faassenii hybrids: ‚Walkers Low‘, despite the name, reaches a good 60 centimetres and was named US perennial of the year for a reason, ‚Six Hills Giant‘ builds up even more massively, and ‚Superba‘ stays compact for the bed edge. True catnip (Nepeta cataria), which cats react to most strongly, is more of a herb-garden candidate with inconspicuous flowers.
The site is quickly described: full sun, free-draining soil, ideally lean and dry. Exactly where everything scorches in high summer is where catmint feels at home. Winter waterlogging is its only real enemy. Once established, it practically never needs watering.
The most important care trick is the rejuvenation cut: after the first big flush in June, cut the whole plant back by half or close to the ground — three or four weeks later it stands in full bloom again and carries on into September. Skip the cut and from August you have a collapsed, flower-shy cushion.
For the animal world, catmint is a direct hit: the nepetalactone it contains triggers a euphoric sense of wellbeing in about two thirds of all cats — they rub, roll, and some sleep blissfully in the cushion. This is completely harmless and not addictive. At the same time, nepeta is among the best bee plants in the perennial range, offering nectar from May to September.
In combination, catmint is the classic rose companion: its blue-violet flatters every rose colour and hides bare stem bases. It looks just as good with yarrow, gaura and grasses in a prairie bed, or as a path edging where it releases its spicy scent as you brush past. If you want to avoid feline visitors in the bed, choose less attractive varieties or protect young plants with brushwood at first.
Is Catmint toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
Catmint is non-toxic to cats, dogs and children. Its intoxicating effect on cats is harmless and wears off after a few minutes. If a cat eats very large amounts, temporary vomiting or diarrhoea can occur — serious consequences are not to be expected.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Plant in full sun and warmth; lean, free-draining soil is ideal.
- 02Water sparingly — established plants are decidedly drought-tolerant.
- 03Cut back hard after the first flush in June for a second bloom.
- 04Largely skip fertiliser, or growth becomes soft and flops apart.
- 05Avoid winter wet; in heavy soils, add grit for drainage.
- 06Do the final cutback only in spring — the old foliage protects the plant in winter.
Frequently asked
- Why do cats love catmint?
- The scent compound nepetalactone is responsible: it resembles pheromones and triggers a brief, euphoric high in about two thirds of cats. The reaction is genetic — some cats remain completely unimpressed. The effect is neither harmful nor addictive.
- Is catmint toxic to dogs or children?
- No, catmint is non-toxic to dogs, cats and children. It is even used as a tea and in cat toys. Only very large eaten amounts can temporarily upset the stomach — but that applies to almost any plant.
- Catmint or lavender — which is better for the bed?
- Visually they are similar; in practice, catmint often has the edge: it is more reliably hardy, copes with ordinary garden soils and flowers a second time after the rejuvenation cut. Lavender wins on fragrance and Mediterranean character — in many gardens we simply plant both.
- When and how do you cut catmint back?
- Twice a year: after the first flush in June, shorten by at least half — that triggers the second bloom. The complete cutback follows only in spring, because the foliage left standing protects the plant from wet and frost in winter.