Nepeta faassenii Dropmore - Catnip

Nepeta x fassenii Dropmore is a variety of catnip with a pretty spreading habit, forming a broad and dense clump. This charming perennial is hardy, drought-resistant, and undemanding. It has aromatic foliage and abundant blue-purple flowers which are visited by butterflies and other pollinators. This flowering continues into October, provided its faded flowers are pruned in summer. A gift for difficult and poor soils, this catmint will thrive in any well-drained soil. It is suitable for all styles of garden and perfectly combines with old or English roses. 

Cats love Nepeta x faassenii, a perennial belonging to the Lamiaceae family, resulting from the cross-breeding between N. racemosa and N. nepetella, native to central and southern Europe. This horticultural creation has given rise to many very interesting varieties for gardens, including the low-growing and neat 'Dropmore'. It is a branched bushy, deciduous perennial that forms a beautiful 40cm (16in) mass of flowers, occupying 55cm (22in) on the ground. In spring, it forms a cushion covered with small velvety, grey-green leaves with a slight menthol scent when crushed. It blooms from June (sometimes earlier in favourable climates) to October, with a short rest period in summer drought. The vegetation is covered with a profusion of long spikes adorned with tiny tender blue-purple, nectar-rich flowers with velvety purple bracts. If the faded flowers are removed, it will produce new dense foliage and flowers.

The beauty of its foliage, the generosity of its flowering, and its compact habit make Nepeta x fassenii Dropmore an essential plant for the garden, even in dry conditions, and pots. It is superb in rockeries or on walls, with a carpet of purple flowers, just like aubrietas or wall bellflowers. It can be used to border a pathway or a walkway, to fill the base of bush roses, in wild-looking flower beds, together with Gauras and Sedum 'Matrona'. In a mixed border, its mauve flowering will contrast with the yellow of yarrows, lady's mantle and Corsican spurge. It also looks stunning with California poppies, rock roses, and other cistuses.