Caucasus catmint

Caucasus catmint: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Upright, loose clump 60–70 cm tall and 50 cm wide, with square stems.

Foliage

Oblong to oval, 4–7 cm, toothed edge; grey-green and aromatic.

Flower

Large lipped flowers in whorls along the stem tips, from June to September.

Colour

Violet-blue to lavender-blue; there are also cultivars with pink or very dark flowers.

Scent

The leaves smell fresh and herbal, especially when crushed.

Flowering: June–September · Plants: March–May and September–October · Pruning: March and July

Why grow it?

• Flowers from June to September, especially if you cut it back after the first flush.
• A magnet for bees, bumblebees and butterflies.
• Drought-tolerant and undemanding: suits poor soil in full sun.
• Grey-green, aromatic foliage that smells fresh when you brush past.
• A fine upright shape for the back of a border, next to roses or among grasses.

Caucasus catmint: where does it grow best?

• Full sun; in partial shade it grows taller and flops open.
• Poor to average, well-drained soil: sand, loam or chalky clay, not too rich.
• Tolerates drought well; waterlogging in winter is dangerous, though.
• Plant 50 cm apart; a group of three gives a lovely effect.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Dry or normal

Size

0.7 m tall, 0.5 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -30 °C)

Goes well with

• Rose: The blue catmint dresses the bare base of roses and attracts beneficial insects.
• Hardy geranium: The same sun and the same flowering time, in complementary colours.
• Yarrow: Flat yellow or pink heads next to the blue whorls; both like dry soil.
• Ornamental grasses: Airy plumes make a soft backdrop for the lilac flowers.

Caucasus catmint: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–May and September–October.

1. Plant in March–May or in September–October, when the soil is not frozen or too wet.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball; on heavy soil mix in a little coarse sand.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as in its pot and firm the soil.
4. Keep 50 cm between plants.
5. Water in generously at once, and after that only in long dry spells; do not use a compost mulch, but a layer of gravel is fine.

Care

Water

In the first year, water weekly in dry weather; after that it usually manages on its own.

Feeding

Usually not needed: soil that is too rich makes it floppy and open.

Cutting back

Cut back by half in July after the first flush: this keeps it compact and gives a second flowering.

Support

On rich soil or in partial shade, a few twigs or a ring can help keep the stems upright.

Mulching

Use gravel or coarse sand around the base, not a thick layer of compost, to avoid rot.

Tip: Plant it in poor, well-drained soil in full sun and cut it back by half in July: you get a compact plant and a second flowering.

Caucasus catmint: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March and July.

When: Twice a year: in July after the first flush and in March, before the new shoots appear.

How:

• In July, cut the spent flower stems and part of the foliage back by half; it soon shoots again.
• Leave the stems standing in winter for insects and as protection for the crown.
• In March, cut all old stems to 5–10 cm above the ground.
• Remove dead or damaged parts.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division

Every three to four years in March–April or September: lift the clump, divide it into pieces with roots and replant at once.

Cuttings

In April–May: take 8–10 cm cuttings from young shoots, remove the lower leaves and insert in sandy compost. They root in a few weeks.

Caucasus catmint: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −30 °C.

• Very hardy, down to about −30 °C: no protection is needed in Belgian winters.
• Leave the stems until March: they protect the crown and shelter insects.
• In a pot: use a free-draining compost and do not stand the pot in a saucer of water.

Diseases and pests

• Flopping open: The clump collapses in rich soil or shade. Plant in poor soil in sun, or give twigs as support.
• Root rot: Yellow leaves and a limp clump after a wet winter. Improve drainage with coarse sand or plant on a raised spot.
• Powdery mildew: White powder on the leaves in dry weather or dense planting. Cutting back and giving more space helps.
• Cats: Some cats roll in the plant and flatten it. Protect young plants with twigs or a little netting.

Through the year

• March: Cut back old stems. Plant or divide. No feed needed.
• April: Plant or divide. Take cuttings.
• May: Plant. Add support if needed.
• June: First flowers. Watch the bees.
• July: After the first flush, cut back by half.
• August: Second flowering. Water in dry weather.
• September: Last flowers. Plant or divide.
• October: Plant. Leave the stems standing.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Butterflies

Nectar for butterflies.

Did you know?

• The name Nepeta is thought to refer to the Etruscan town of Nepete, present-day Nepi in Italy.
• Many ornamental catmints excite cats less than true catnip (Nepeta cataria), but some cats roll in them all the same.
• It belongs to the mint family with its square stems, like mint and sage.