Common Name: nepeta
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Lamiaceae
Zone: 3 to 8
Height: 1.00 to 1.50 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet
Bloom Time: May to July
Bloom Description: Violet blue
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize
Flower: Showy
Leaf: Fragrant
Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil
Culture
Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Intolerant of wet soils. Tolerates dry soils, but is somewhat intolerant of the heat and humidity of the deep South and appreciates some afternoon shade in hot climates. Shear flower spikes after initial flowering to promote continued bloom. Can be rather aggressive, particularly if grown in rich, moist soils. One of the most cold hardy of the catmints.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Nepeta sibirica typically growing to about 2' tall. Features loose whorls of small, abundant, two-lipped, trumpet-shaped, medium to deep violet-blue flowers in racemes atop square, leafy stems with oval, aromatic, deep green foliage. Blooms in spring to early summer. Although Nepeta cataria is the true catnip which drives house cats ecstatic, the leaves of this catmint are also attractive, albeit less enticing, to cats.
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 means of Siberia.
'Souvenir d'André Chaudron' is a compact cultivar that typically grows to 1.5' tall. It is sometimes sold as 'Blue Beauty'.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Rock gardens, borders, herb gardens or naturalized plantings.