Nepeta, Cat's Meow Catmint 'Blue Wonder'

Blue Wonder Catmint | Nepeta x faassenii 'Blue Wonder'

Height:  16 inches

Spread:  18 inches

Sunlight: full sun to part shade

Hardiness Zone:  3a

Brand:  Gertens

Description:

Bushy, long-blooming perennial; lavender-blue flowers over compact foliage; prune for 2nd bloom; fragrant foliage

Ornamental Features

Blue Wonder Catmint has masses of beautiful spikes of lightly-scented royal blue flowers with powder blue overtones rising above the foliage from late spring to early fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. Its small fragrant pointy leaves remain grayish green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Blue Wonder Catmint is a dense herbaceous perennial with a mounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

Self-Seeding

Blue Wonder Catmint is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Blue Wonder Catmint will grow to be about 15 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 inches. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under typical garden conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Blue Wonder Catmint is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers against which the thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, most plants cannot be expected to survive the winter if left in containers outdoors, and this plant is no exception. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.