Bring Soft Colour and Pollinator Appeal to Your Garden with Nepeta Mussini (Catmint)

Nepeta Mussini, commonly known as Catmint, is a delightful perennial prized for its aromatic grey-green foliage and abundant spikes of soft lavender-blue flowers. Blooming from late spring through summer, it forms a compact, spreading mound that softens the edges of borders and paths while adding gentle colour and fragrance.

The long-lasting blooms are a magnet for pollinators, especially bees and butterflies, making Catmint a popular choice for wildlife gardens. Its resilience, drought tolerance, and low-maintenance nature also make it ideal for gardeners seeking easy yet beautiful additions to their space.

Growing Conditions

Catmint thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It performs well in borders, edging, rock gardens, and pollinator-friendly spaces. Once established, it is highly drought-tolerant and copes well with challenging conditions.

Planting Guide

Sowing Indoors: Sow seeds indoors from February to April. Press seeds lightly onto the surface of moist seed compost without covering, as light aids germination. Maintain a temperature of 18–24°C. Germination usually takes 10–21 days.
Transplanting: Once seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant into individual pots. Gradually acclimatise before planting outdoors after the last frost.
Direct Sowing: Alternatively, sow directly outdoors from April to May. Thin seedlings to a final spacing of 30–40 cm.

Care & Maintenance

Watering: Water regularly during establishment, then reduce watering as plants become drought-tolerant.
Feeding: Generally not required.
Pruning: Trim back spent flower spikes to encourage repeat blooming and maintain a tidy shape.
Winter Care: Leave some stems for winter interest or cut back in late autumn.

Flowering & Cut Flower Tips

Nepeta Mussini blooms from late spring into late summer. While not commonly used as a cut flower, its aromatic foliage and soft flowers can add a rustic, informal touch to small arrangements.

Garden Impact

Catmint’s soft, mounding habit and pollinator-friendly blooms make it an excellent choice for edging paths, softening hard landscaping, or filling gaps in sunny borders. It combines beautifully with roses, grasses, and other drought-tolerant perennials.