Plant Form: Perennial
Water Use: Low, Moderate
Mature Size: 1 – 2 ft. tall x 2 – 3 ft. wide
Exposure: Full sun, part sun
Bloom Time: Late Spring (May), Summer (June, July)
Hardiness: Cold Hardy to 0°F
Native to: Asia, Europe, Africa
Catmint is beloved by gardeners for a host of features: it is fast growing, long lived, low maintenance, resistant to browsing animals and pests, attractive to butterflies and bees, water-wise, and is graced with periwinkle-blue flowers over a long bloom season. This cornerstone of many xeriscape gardens is also cold hardy, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, easy to grow, and tolerant of most soil types. Its gray-green foliage is lacy and aromatic, deterring rabbits and deer, but charming humans; scented foliage is used in dried potpourri and in fresh arrangements. Cut flower stalks are great in bouquets. Deadhead spent flowers or shear back stems for denser plants with more lush second blooms. This compact perennial is lovely cascading over walls, walkways, and containers, and makes an attractive rock garden accent or small-scale groundcover. Perfect in borders, containers, mass plantings, rock gardens, along paths, and to hide the knobby “knees” of rose bushes.
THIS MONTH IN YOUR DESERT-SMART LANDSCAPE
Rising temperatures cause changes in plants
- Change watering schedule from mid-day to early morning or evening as weather heats up to minimize loss through evaporation.
- Maintain good mulch of organic matter covering garden soil throughout the summer to hold in moisture.
- remove (“deadhead”) spent flowers unless you want to collect seeds (such as Penstemons) to stimulate repeat blooming.