Catmint
Protect young plants with twigs or mesh until established, since cats can flatten small plants before they get going.
Care
Full sun.
Drought-tolerant once established.
Free-draining soil of low to moderate fertility; dislikes rich, wet ground.
Shear back hard after the first flowering flush in midsummer to encourage a second flush and prevent flopping; cut back to ground level in late winter/spring.
No feeding. On lean, well-drained soil it makes a tight aromatic mound; on a rich one it grows twice the size, splits open in the middle and needs cutting back much sooner.
Softwood cuttings in late spring root in a fortnight, or simply divide the clump as growth starts. Either way it is one of the easiest border plants to multiply.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- MarchCut back last year's growth before new shoots appear. how ›
- JuneKeep an eye out for cats flattening plants — a genuinely common genus-specific issue.
- JulyShear back hard after the first flowering flush for a second flush of flower. how ›
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchCut back last year's growth before new shoots appear. how ›
- JuneKeep an eye out for cats flattening plants — a genuinely common genus-specific issue.
- JulyShear back hard after the first flowering flush for a second flush of flower. how ›
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- FebruaryCut back last year's growth before new shoots appear. how ›
- JuneKeep an eye out for cats flattening plants — a genuinely common genus-specific issue.
- JulyShear back hard after the first flowering flush for a second flush of flower. how ›
Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- FebruaryCut back last year's growth before new shoots appear. how ›
- JuneKeep an eye out for cats flattening plants — a genuinely common genus-specific issue.
- JulyShear back hard after the first flowering flush for a second flush of flower. how ›
Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. In rich soil.
What to do. Move to leaner, sunnier ground, or shear back after first flush.
How to spot it. Physical flattening — cats are drawn to the foliage.
What to do. Protect young plants with twigs or mesh.
Popular varieties
Questions
Catmint: is it hardy?
H7: Fully hardy anywhere in the UK. It survives below −20 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
Standard container culture.
Catmint: when do you prune it?
Shear back hard after the first flowering flush in midsummer to encourage a second flush and prevent flopping; cut back to ground level in late winter/spring. In the calendar for UK, pruning falls in March, July.
Catmint: when does it flower?
In the climate of UK it flowers in May–September.
When do you feed it?
No feeding. On lean, well-drained soil it makes a tight aromatic mound; on a rich one it grows twice the size, splits open in the middle and needs cutting back much sooner.