Catmint Plant: Care, Varieties & Buying Guide

The catmint plant (Nepeta) is a hardy, easy-care perennial known for its silvery-green foliage, long-blooming lavender-blue flowers, and popularity as a low-maintenance border and pollinator plant. This guide covers how to plant and care for catmint, its most popular variety, Walker's Low, how it compares to true catnip, whether it's invasive, and where to buy one. For more plant care guides, see our homepage.

What Is Catmint Plant?

Catmint is the common name for several species in the genus Nepeta, prized in gardens for their soft mounding habit, aromatic gray-green leaves, and abundant small blue-purple flower spikes that bloom over a long season. It's a favorite for borders, edging, and pollinator gardens because it's drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and blooms reliably with minimal care.

Catmint vs. Catnip

Catmint and catnip are closely related but not identical — both belong to the Nepeta genus, but "catnip" typically refers specifically to Nepeta cataria, the species best known for triggering the classic euphoric response in cats, while "catmint" usually refers to ornamental Nepeta hybrids and species, like Walker's Low, bred more for garden appearance than for cat appeal. That said, many catmint varieties still contain the same compound, nepetalactone, so they can still attract and mildly affect cats — just often less intensely than true catnip.

Does Catmint Plant Attract Cats?

Yes, many cats are drawn to catmint because of nepetalactone, the same compound responsible for catnip's effect. Reactions vary by cat — some roll in it, chew the leaves, or seem mildly stimulated, while others show little interest at all, since sensitivity to nepetalactone is partly genetic.

Is Catmint an Invasive Plant?

Popular ornamental catmint varieties like Walker's Low are generally well-behaved and clump-forming rather than aggressively spreading, which is part of why they're so widely recommended for borders. True catnip (Nepeta cataria), on the other hand, can self-seed more freely and spread further in some conditions. If spreading is a concern, choosing a named, clump-forming cultivar and deadheading spent flowers can help keep it in check.

Catmint Plant Care

Light: Full sun is best for the fullest, most compact growth and heaviest bloom, though catmint tolerates light shade reasonably well.

Soil: Well-draining soil is important — catmint is quite drought-tolerant once established and doesn't like consistently soggy roots.

Water: Water regularly while young, then reduce watering as the plant matures; established catmint handles dry spells well.

Perennial or annual: Catmint is a hardy perennial in most temperate climates, typically returning reliably year after year, generally in USDA zones 3–8 depending on the variety.

Winter care: Cut the plant back in late fall or early spring; it dies back in colder climates and regrows from the base each year.

Containers: Catmint can be grown successfully in pots with good drainage, making it a flexible option for patios or small spaces.

How to Prune Catmint Plant

Catmint benefits from a "shear back" approach rather than selective pruning. After the first flush of blooms fades — usually mid-summer — cut the whole plant back by about a third to a half. This encourages a tidier shape and often triggers a second round of blooming later in the season. A more thorough cutback in early spring, removing old growth down to a few inches, helps the plant come back full and healthy for the year.

Walker's Low Catmint Plant

Walker's Low is one of the most widely grown catmint varieties, valued for its long bloom time, compact mounding habit (typically 18–30 inches tall and wide), and reliable performance in borders and mass plantings. Despite the name, it doesn't require particularly wet or "low" conditions — the name refers to its origin, not its growing requirements. It's frequently recommended as a low-maintenance alternative to lavender in similar garden roles.

Catmint Uses

• Garden borders and edging — its mounding habit and long bloom time make it a popular structural border plant
• Pollinator gardens — bees and other pollinators are strongly drawn to its flowers
• Companion planting — often paired with roses, since its foliage can help visually fill gaps at the base of leggier plants
• Deer-resistant landscaping — its aromatic foliage makes it less appealing to deer and rabbits than many other perennials
• Cat enrichment — some gardeners grow a patch specifically for their cats to enjoy

Where to Buy Catmint Plants

If you're looking for catmint plants for sale, a few reliable sources include:

• Local nurseries and garden centers — good for healthy, already-established plants suited to your climate
• Proven Winners — offers popular catmint cultivars and can help you locate retailers near you
• Home Depot and similar retailers, which often stock potted catmint in the perennial section
• Online specialty nurseries — useful for finding specific named varieties beyond Walker's Low

Quick FAQ

What is catmint used for?

Beyond ornamental garden use, catmint is popular for borders, pollinator gardens, deer-resistant landscaping, and as an enrichment plant for cats, since it can trigger a similar (if often milder) reaction to catnip.

What are the disadvantages of catmint plants?

Some varieties can flop or sprawl if not sheared back mid-season, its strong scent isn't to everyone's taste, and less clump-forming types (or true catnip) can self-seed more than some gardeners prefer.

What does catmint do for cats?

It contains nepetalactone, the same compound in catnip, which can trigger rolling, rubbing, or a brief period of playful excitement in sensitive cats — though not all cats respond, since the reaction is partly genetic.

Does catmint plant like sun or shade?

It performs best in full sun, producing the fullest growth and heaviest bloom, though it tolerates partial shade reasonably well.

Final Thoughts

The catmint plant earns its popularity honestly — long bloom times, drought tolerance, pollinator appeal, and minimal care requirements make it one of the easiest perennials to work into almost any sunny garden bed or border. With a mid-season shear-back and well-draining soil, it rewards very little effort with months of soft blue-purple color.

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