About
Stiff, upright grey-hairy stems to 80cm tall with aromatic narrow, oval, whitish woolly leaves 8cm long and bearing dense spikes of tiny purple flowers amid tiers of mauve-purple buds, from July to early September.
About the genus
Nepeta can be annuals or, more commonly, perennials, with paired, usually aromatic leaves, and terminal spikes or panicles of 2-lipped, tubular flowers
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeLoam, Chalk, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitBushy, Clump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Mediterranean climate plants, Patio and container plants
Native toThroughout the range of the species
Care notes
CultivationGrow in any well-drained soil in full sun
PruningFlowered stems can be cut down after flowering is finished
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or by division in spring or autumn
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to leafhoppers and slug damage on young growth
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free