Nepeta (Nepeta × faassenii 'Kit Cat')
Nepeta × faassenii 'Kit Cat' is a low-maintenance, dwarf perennial catmint boasting fragrant, blue flowers from May to September.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Nepeta × faassenii ‘Kit Cat’ is a highly valued, sterile hybrid perennial catmint, celebrated for its long bloom period and ease of cultivation. This dwarf cultivar of Nepeta produces mounds of aromatic, gray-green foliage topped with dense racemes of appealing blue flowers throughout the summer months. Gardeners prize this Nepeta for its resilience and its ability to handle relatively dry conditions once established.
This specific variety, ‘Kit Cat’, forms a compact, spreading clump, staying lower than its parent species, making it ideal for defined borders and edging. The high fragrance of the leaves, while somewhat less enticing to cats than true catnip, adds a wonderful sensory element to the herb garden or mixed perennial borders.
Functionally, Nepeta × faassenii ‘Kit Cat’ brings reliable color from late spring well into autumn, demanding very little attention from the gardener regarding pests or diseases. Its tolerance for poor soils and deer resistance cement its status as a dependable workhorse in many landscape designs.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Lamiaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-1.5 ft
- Spread: 1-2 ft
- Bloom Time: May to September
- Bloom Description: Blue
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Dry to medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Plant Nepeta × faassenii ‘Kit Cat’ in average, well-drained soils. While it prefers dry to medium moisture levels, it benefits from cool, moist conditions, especially when newly established. For northern gardens, planting in full sun guarantees robust growth and flowering. In hotter, southern climates, provide light afternoon shade to prevent leaf scorch and stress.
Maintenance for this Nepeta is refreshingly low. Water sparingly once mature, as it tolerates drought well, though remember it is not as drought tolerant as some other Nepeta varieties. Avoid over-fertilizing, which can lead to lax, floppy growth rather than the desired compact mounds.
To encourage continuous blooming throughout the season, shear the spent flower spikes immediately after the first major flush finishes. A harder cutback before the very first flowering can also help maintain a tighter, more compact habit for this cultivar.
Landscape Uses
The manageable size of Nepeta × faassenii ‘Kit Cat’ makes it exceptionally versatile in formal and informal settings alike. It excels when used along border fronts, providing soft texture and color contrast against bolder foliage plants. Its spreading nature also makes it an excellent candidate for small-scale ground cover where you need consistent, low-level coverage.
Consider planting this fragrant perennial in containers or raised beds, particularly where you want deer resistance built into the design. In cottage gardens, mix the blue blooms of Nepeta with pink or white roses, or pair it with other sun-loving, drought-tolerant herbs for an aromatic sensory experience near a pathway. It is also an effective plant for edging walkways or defining the front of a rock garden area.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Fragrant
Noteworthy Characteristics
Nepeta × faassenii is a sterile hybrid perennial catmint originating from crossing N. Racemosa and N. Nepetella. This cultivar, ‘Kit Cat’, is a dwarf form, typically reaching only 15 inches tall, forming spreading mounds adorned with highly aromatic, scalloped, gray-green leaves and clusters of two-lipped blue flowers blooming from May through September. The genus name itself is linked historically to aromatic plants known to ancient Romans.
Tolerances
- Deer
- Dry Soil
- Shallow-Rocky Soil
- Air Pollution
Potential Problems
Nepeta × faassenii ‘Kit Cat’ is generally pest-free, showing no serious insect or disease issues under typical garden settings. Deer tend to completely avoid this aromatic plant, offering excellent protection in areas where browsing is common. The primary management concern is ensuring good air circulation and applying the suggested shearing techniques to maintain shape and encourage rebloom. Overwatering or heavy, poorly draining soil, conversely, can lead to root rot issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Nepeta × faassenii ‘Kit Cat’ suitable for?
This perennial catmint is reliably hardy across USDA Zones 3 through 8.
How large does Nepeta × faassenii ‘Kit Cat’ grow?
This dwarf cultivar typically matures to a height between 1 and 1.5 feet tall, spreading to cover an area 1 to 2 feet wide.
When does Nepeta bloom?
Nepeta × faassenii ‘Kit Cat’ offers a continuous display of blue flowers beginning in May and often lasting until September, especially with prompt deadheading.
What sun exposure does Nepeta need?
For the best performance, site Nepeta in locations receiving full sun, though it will tolerate parts of the day spent in partial shade.
Conclusion
The dwarf stature, extended bloom time, and exceptional low-maintenance needs make Nepeta × faassenii ‘Kit Cat’ an invaluable addition for reliable summer color. By ensuring proper drainage and implementing seasonal shearing, you can maximize the ornamental display of this wonderful Nepeta variety. Check your local hardiness zone compatibility before planting this spring!
Companion Planting
When designing borders around Nepeta × faassenii ‘Kit Cat’, select companions that appreciate similar sun exposure and tolerate dry to medium soil conditions. Excellent partners include flowering herbs like Lavender (Lavandula) or Thyme (Thymus), whose textures and colors complement the blue spikes. For a cottage garden look, pair it with Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears) for contrasting silver foliage, or utilize plants like Coreopsis or Rudbeckia to punctuate the mid-border with yellow hues that contrast beautifully with the Nepeta’s blue.
Wildlife Benefits
While Nepeta cataria is the true catnip, this horticultural hybrid still offers significant benefits to local ecosystems. The nectar-rich flowers are highly attractive to numerous species of beneficial pollinators. Bees, including honeybees and native bumblebees, are constantly found foraging on the long succession of blooms. Planting Nepeta in mass provides a reliable late-season nectar source, supporting pollinator populations right up until autumn when many other flowering plants begin to fade.
