Common Name: nepeta
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Lamiaceae
Zone: 3 to 8
Height: 1.00 to 1.50 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: May to September
Bloom Description: Blue
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Showy, Fragrant
Leaf: Fragrant
Tolerate: Deer, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil, Air Pollution
Culture
Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Prefers cool, moist soils. Plants are not as drought tolerant as many of the other Nepetas. In northern areas, site plants in full sun. In the deep South, site plants in areas with some light afternoon shade. Plants may be cut back before first flowering to promote more compact size. Shear flower spikes after initial flowering to promote continued bloom.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Nepeta × faassenii is a sterile hybrid (N. racemosa × N. nepetella) perennial catmint of horticultural origin (Dutch nursery of J. H. Faassen). It typically forms a spreading clump of decumbent, ascending and upright stems rising to 18-24” tall and spreading to as much as 36” wide. Gray-green leaves and lavender-blue flowers are highly aromatic.
Genus name comes from the Latin name for certain aromatic plants that included catmint. It may honor the city of Nepete (known as Nepi today) located north of Rome in Etruria which was the ancient country located between the Arno and Tiber Rivers and was recognized, prior to the rise of Rome, as the center of the Etruscan civilization.
Specific epithet is in reference to the Dutch nursery of J. H. Faassen.
‘Kit Cat’ (sometimes sold in commerce as ‘Kit Kat’) is a dwarf cultivar that grows in spreading mounds to only 15” tall. It features scalloped, ovate, gray-green leaves that are highly aromatic when crushed or bruised. Two-lipped blue flowers densely clustered in raceme-like whorled cymes bloom from May to September. Although Nepeta cataria is the true catnip loved by house cats, the leaves of this hybrid, although somewhat less enticing, are also attractive to cats.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Deer tend to avoid this plant.
Uses
Rock gardens, border fronts, cottage gardens or herb gardens. Also a good plant for edging or small scale ground cover. Good for dry areas. Containers.