Catmint (Nepeta 'Longipes')
Discover Nepeta 'Longipes' Catmint, an herbaceous perennial offering lilac blooms from May to August, ideal for low-maintenance, drought-tolerant gardens.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Nepeta ‘Longipes’, commonly known as Catmint, is a highly valued herbaceous perennial prized for its extended bloom period and resilience. This specific cultivar sets itself apart by featuring distinct lilac-colored flowers, contrasting with the typical violet shades found in many other catmints. It forms an attractive, spreading clump perfect for adding long-lasting color and texture to perennial borders.
This Catmint variety is known for being exceptionally easy to grow and remarkably tough once established. It thrives in average soils with good drainage, favoring full sun but tolerating light afternoon shade, especially in hotter climates. Gardeners appreciate its low maintenance requirements and significant drought tolerance.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, Nepeta ‘Longipes’ offers visual interest through its highly aromatic, gray-green leaves, which release their fragrance when bruised. Its long blooming window, stretching from late spring into mid-summer, ensures consistent color, making it a reliable workhorse in diverse garden settings.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Lamiaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 2-3 ft
- Spread: 1.5-2 ft
- Bloom Time: May to August
- Bloom Description: Lilac
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Dry to medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Nepeta ‘Longipes’ establishes best when planted in the spring or fall, allowing the root system to develop before summer heat or winter cold arrives. Locate it where it receives at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, though afternoon shade is beneficial in the intense heat of southern gardening regions. The most critical factor for success is soil drainage; ensure the soil is average but drains freely, as this Catmint thrives in dry conditions.
Watering should be minimal once the plant is mature. While establishing, keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. After establishment, Nepeta ‘Longipes’ tolerates significant periods of dryness, performing best when infrequently watered based on its “dry to medium” needs. Fertilization is rarely required; over-fertilizing can lead to floppier growth and less prolific flowering.
Routine maintenance focuses primarily on encouraging continuous bloom. Shear the flower spikes back by about one-third immediately after the first flush of flowering subsides. This simple step promotes a second, lighter bloom later in the summer and keeps the plant tidy. In ideal conditions, this robust Catmint may self-seed slightly, contributing to a soft, naturalized look.
Landscape Uses
Nepeta ‘Longipes’ excels as an informal edging plant along walkways or defining the front of a border, where its mounding habit prevents it from sprawling excessively. Its textural gray-green foliage contrasts beautifully with finer-leafed plants or dark green shrubs, offering a cool, calming presence throughout the summer. Consider using it in herb gardens where its aromatic nature is appreciated, though be aware its leaves are reportedly not as attractive to cats as true catnip.
This variety is perfectly suited for creating naturalized drifts within a larger landscape design. Plant copious amounts of this Catmint near structures that benefit from drought-tolerant, low-care perennial masses. It pairs well architecturally with stiffer, upright elements like ornamental grasses or structural evergreens that provide vertical contrast to its softer mounds.
Due to its excellent drought tolerance, Nepeta ‘Longipes’ is a superb choice for xeriscaping or low-water gardens, blending well with other sun-loving, dry-tolerant partners like lavender, sedums, or ornamental sages. Its prolonged bloom period ensures that pathways remain vibrant throughout the peak growing season.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Nepeta longipes is a catmint that forms a spreading clump of stems to 3’ tall, notably distinguished from other types by its lilac-colored flowers rather than the typical violet. Its gray-green, serrate leaves are highly aromatic when crushed, growing on purplish stems, adding sensory appeal to the garden. This species blooms prolifically from May through July, and proper care, including shearing spent flowers, can encourage an appealing secondary bloom in late summer or fall.
Tolerances
- Deer
- Drought
Potential Problems
Nepeta ‘Longipes’ generally exhibits very few issues related to pests or diseases, making it an excellent low-risk planting choice for many gardeners. Serious insect infestations or chronic diseases are not typically reported for this variety of Catmint. Ensure correct cultural conditions, primarily excellent drainage, to maintain this high level of health.
If planted in overly wet or humid environments without sufficient air circulation, fungal issues like powdery mildew can occasionally develop on the foliage. Preventative care involves providing adequate space between plants to promote airflow and avoiding overhead watering late in the day. Prompt shearing of spent flower heads also helps refresh the plant and reduce potential disease harbors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Catmint (Nepeta ‘Longipes’) suitable for?
Nepeta ‘Longipes’ is a resilient herbaceous perennial suitable for growing year-round in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 8.
How large does Catmint (Nepeta ‘Longipes’) grow?
This Catmint typically reaches a mature height between 2 and 3 feet tall, with a spread that generally measures between 1.5 and 2 feet wide, forming a neat, spreading clump.
When does Catmint (Nepeta ‘Longipes’) bloom?
This variety offers a reliable bloom display that starts in May and continues through August, featuring lovely lilac-colored flowers.
What sun exposure does Catmint (Nepeta ‘Longipes’) need?
For the best flowering and growth habit, Nepeta ‘Longipes’ requires full sun, but it can tolerate part shade, especially where summer afternoons are particularly hot.
Conclusion
The Nepeta ‘Longipes’ Catmint offers a superior combination of reliability, drought tolerance, and sustained color output, making it indispensable for low-effort gardening schemes. Its unique lilac flowers distinguish it within the genus, and its aromatic leaves add multi-sensory interest. Before planting, confirm that your garden falls within USDA Zones 3 to 8 and ensure well-drained soil to enjoy years of effortless beauty from this excellent perennial.
Companion Planting
When selecting partners for Nepeta ‘Longipes’, focus on plants that share its cultural requirements: full sun and dry to medium soil tolerance. Good structural companions include Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), which shares a similar drought resilience and offers vertical texture against the Catmint’s mounding form.
For complementary color provided by a different bloom time, consider pairing the Catmint with plants that finish blooming before or after its May-to-August cycle. Daylilies or Coneflowers (Echinacea) planted slightly behind the Nepeta ‘Longipes’ provide height while basking in similar sun conditions, creating layers of durable texture.
Since this Catmint is deer-tolerant, you can confidently place it near vegetable beds or ornamental plantings that might otherwise attract browsing animals. Its low-maintenance character ensures it won’t compete aggressively for water or nutrients with its neighbors.
Design Ideas
Nepeta ‘Longipes’ performs exceptionally well in mass plantings, where grouping three, five, or seven specimens together creates a stunning, continuous band of cooling lilac color. This mass effect is particularly impactful along retaining walls or slopes where its spreading habit can soften hard edges.
Use this Catmint to soften the transition between formal pathways and looser garden beds. Its low, neat profile makes it an ideal foreground or middle-ground anchor that doesn’t obscure shorter blooming bulbs or groundcovers planted closer to the edge.
For a Mediterranean-inspired palette, combine the gray-green foliage and lilac blooms of Nepeta ‘Longipes’ with silver foliage plants like Lamb’s Ears (Stachys byzantina) or various artemisias. This monochromatic color scheme emphasizes texture and resilience, perfect for hot, dry areas of the yard.
