Blue Panther Catmint
Nepeta subsessilis 'Blue Panther'
Height: 10 inches
Spacing: 10 inches
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 3
Description:
Presents spectacular bracts of lovely lavender blue flowers rising up above a compact mound of gray-green foliage; for best results, deadhead after blooms are spent; very beautiful massed in borders
Ornamental Features
Blue Panther Catmint has masses of beautiful spikes of lightly-scented lavender trumpet-shaped flowers with silvery blue overtones rising above the foliage from late spring to early fall, which emerge from distinctive creamy white flower buds, and which are most effective when planted in groupings. Its attractive small fragrant pointy leaves remain grayish green in color throughout the season.
Landscape Attributes
Blue Panther 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 bees, butterflies and hummingbirds 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 Panther Catmint is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Mass Planting
- Border Edging
- General Garden Use
- Herb Gardens
- Container Planting
Planting & Growing
Blue Panther Catmint will grow to be about 8 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 10 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. 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 prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. 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 is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. 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 Panther 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 and foliage 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.
