When do I cut back catmint?

Twice a year for the longest display. First cut (the Chelsea Chop) in late June: cut the whole plant to 10 cm after the first flush of flowers fades. This triggers a second, longer flush August–September. Second cut in late autumn (after the second flush): trim to 10 cm to tidy for winter. Without the Chelsea Chop, catmint flowers once in May–June and looks tatty all summer; with it, you get 4 months of flowering.

Will catmint attract cats to my garden?

Yes — but typically less dramatically than true catnip. Ornamental catmints (Nepeta × faassenii, N. racemosa — the garden classics) contain nepetalactone (the compound cats respond to) but at lower concentrations than true catnip (Nepeta cataria). Most cats are mildly attracted, sniff the leaves, sometimes roll on the plant. Heavy play with it like a toy cat behaviour is more common with true catnip. For minimum cat interest: plant Junior Walker or N. nervosa — lower nepetalactone content. For maximum cat attraction: plant true catnip (Nepeta cataria).

Why is my catmint flopping over?

Two usual causes. (1) Too rich soil: catmint flops in fertilised or compost-rich soil. Stop feeding, fork grit in next spring. (2) Vigorous cultivar in a small space: Six Hills Giant (90 cm) naturally flops in summer — that's its habit. For an upright plant, choose Walker's Low or Junior Walker (50–60 cm, naturally upright). Many UK gardeners accept the flopping habit at border fronts; it softens hard path edges.

What's the best catmint variety for the UK?

Walker's Low is the modern UK favourite — RHS Award of Garden Merit, 50–60 cm tall (despite the Low in the name), reliable hardy, flowers June–September with the Chelsea Chop. Six Hills Giant is the vigorous workhorse for larger spaces (90 cm). Junior Walker is a sterile compact form (30–40 cm) — doesn't self-seed, more upright. Avoid bedding-type Nepetas; they're often short-lived.

Will catmint survive a UK winter?

Yes — fully hardy (RHS H5–H7). Catmint dies back to the rootstock each autumn and returns each spring. Survives any normal UK winter without protection. Established plants are essentially indestructible. Two cautions: (1) Don't divide in autumn (wait for spring). (2) Avoid waterlogged soil — winter wet on heavy clay can occasionally rot the crown.

Are catmints good for wildlife?

Outstanding — one of the top UK garden plants for pollinator diversity. The small two-lipped flowers are accessible to bees of all kinds (bumblebees, honeybees, solitary bees), hoverflies, butterflies, and moths. Long-tongued bumblebees work the flowers from the front; short-tongued bumblebees and honeybees visit too. A patch of catmint in full flower is a constant buzz from May through September. With the Chelsea Chop technique, you maximise pollinator value across the longest possible season.

Catmint (Nepeta)

Nepeta × faassenii

herb☀️ sun-or-partial🪴 well-drained📏 small🌡️ RHS H5

📋Quick Facts

Water

💧 Minimal watering

Hardiness

Zone 3-8

About

Plant catmint in spring, in full sun in well-drained soil — it's an easy hardy perennial that forms loose mounds of grey-green aromatic foliage topped by spires of lavender-blue flowers from May through September. Catmint is hardy (RHS H5–H7) and one of the most reliable UK garden plants for pollinators — bees of all kinds work the flowers obsessively. Six Hills Giant is the workhorse cultivar (90 cm tall, vigorous), Walker's Low is the mid-sized one (50 cm), and N. racemosa Walker's Low is more compact still. Cut the whole plant back hard after the first flush in late June (the Chelsea Chop) for a longer second flush August–September. Cats do roll in it — catnip (Nepeta cataria) is the species that drives cats wild; ornamental catmint affects them too but less dramatically. A bee plant first, a cat plant second.

Also known as: Catmint (Nepeta), Kocimiętka (Nepeta), Nepeta × faassenii, Katzenminze, Nepeta / hierba gatera ornamental, Cataire / menthe des chats, Népeta / erva-dos-gatos ornamental

How to grow catmint (nepeta)

1
Pick ornamental or true catnip
Ornamental catmints (the garden classics — Nepeta × faassenii, N. racemosa, N. nervosa, N. govaniana): lavender-blue flowers, grey-green foliage, the showy border plants. Cats are mildly attracted but rarely destructive. Six Hills Giant: vigorous 90 cm tall, the UK workhorse. Walker's Low (despite the name, 50–60 cm): mid-sized, RHS Award of Garden Merit, the most popular UK garden choice. True catnip (Nepeta cataria): the species cats really respond to — used in herbal teas, grown more for cats than for ornament. Smaller white-pink flowers, weedier appearance. See separate catnip content if drafted.
2
Plant in full sun and well-drained soil
Mediterranean origins: catmint wants 6+ hours direct sun and free-draining soil. Rich soil = flopping plants. On clay soils, fork in horticultural grit at planting. Tolerates poor sandy or chalky soils perfectly. Spacing 50 cm for medium varieties, 75 cm for Six Hills Giant.
3
Plant in spring, after last frost
April to May. Container-grown plants are sold in 1–2 L pots from spring onwards. Plant at the same depth as the pot. Water in deeply, then leave alone — catmint hates overwatering once established. Spring planting gives time to root before its first winter.
4
Don't feed
Feeding makes catmint flop. Rich soil produces lush growth that collapses sideways and reduces flowering. No fertiliser at planting; no fertiliser during the season. A gravel mulch around the base keeps weeds down without adding nutrients. Stress and poor soil concentrate the essential oils and improve both flowering and bee-attractiveness.
5
Apply the Chelsea Chop in late June
The single most important husbandry technique. After the first flush of flowers fades (late June), cut the whole plant down to 10 cm above ground. Looks brutal but works: catmint regrows quickly and produces a second, longer flush of flowers from August through September. Without the Chelsea Chop, catmint flowers in May–June and then looks tatty for the rest of summer. With it: 4 months of flowering and tidy foliage.
6
Stake taller varieties or let them flop naturally
Six Hills Giant (90 cm) often flops sideways onto the ground in summer storms — a discreet grow-through plant support placed early lets it grow naturally. Many UK gardeners actually like the flopping habit at the front of a border (it softens path edges) and don't bother staking. Compact varieties (Walker's Low, Junior Walker) stay upright without support.
7
Cut to 10 cm in late autumn
After the second flush fades in September, cut the plant down to 10 cm above ground. Removes the spent stems and prepares the clump for winter dormancy. The plant returns each spring from the rootstock. Don't divide in autumn — wait for spring.
8
Divide every 3–4 years in spring
Catmint clumps gradually become congested and the centre dies out. In early spring (just as new growth emerges), lift the clump, split with a spade into 3–4 sections, replant the best outer pieces in fresh soil. Compost the dead centre. Free new plants — give the spares away. Easy and reliable propagation.

Common questions

Pest Resilience

5/5 — Highly resilient

Aromatic oils strongly deter pests; virtually pest-free.

The catmint (nepeta) year in your garden

Dispatching imaginary bots to check your garden out...

What to do now

How to Propagate

🔪Division

Easy

🌰Seed

Easy

✂️Cutting

Moderate

Hardiness Zones

H1a (tender)H7 (very hardy)

H1a

H1b

H1c

RHS H5

USDA 6–7 equivalent

Catmint (Nepeta)

Catmint (Nepeta)

📋Quick Facts

About

How to grow catmint (nepeta)

Common questions

Pest Resilience

The catmint (nepeta) year in your garden

How to Propagate

Hardiness Zones

Names in Other Languages(5)