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Catmint: pretty and not persnickety
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Bees frequent the blue blossoms Photo by Quincy Benton
I’m not precisely sure which nepeta grows in my garden, but I know it’s not Nepeta cataria--also known as catnip--because mine has blue-violet flowers on spikes; and catnip has none. I think the plants on my property must be Nepeta x faassenii, commonly known as catmint.
I got some of this vigorous herb years ago from a friends’ garden. I remember her telling me that it will spread; and spread it has, true to its roots as a member of the mint family.
This herb grows wantonly in the tough conditions of my corner—lots of sun, not so much water. (Except for this rainy spring.) I welcome nepeta in cracks and corners here and there. Bees frequent the blue blossoms.
When my nepeta’s flowers fade, I shear the plant back by half to encourage another round of blooms. Meanwhile, the gray-green leaves with their scalloped edges add enough interest for my eye.
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