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Nepeta faassenii Nova® Blue - Catnip

Nepeta x faassenii Nova® Blue (PP16,068)
Faassen's catnip, Catmint

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A Nepeta variety with a compact, upright habit, useful for its early and prolonged flowering, composed of large, lavender-blue flowers. It is nectar-rich, attracting bees and butterflies throughout the season. Its compact, aromatic foliage forms a small clump that maintains a neat appearance. Ideal as groundcover, in borders, pots, or hanging baskets, it is resilient and easy to grow.
Height at maturity
20 cm
Spread at maturity
50 cm
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -18°C
Soil moisture
Dry soil, Moist soil
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Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time March to May, September to November
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Flowering time May to September
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Description

Nepeta faassenii Nova® 'Blue' is a compact perennial that stands out for its neat habit, prolonged flowering and ease of cultivation. From spring, it produces lavender-blue flowers of good size for a catmint. Its flowering brings a touch of freshness and lightness to border edges, rock gardens and planters, while attracting many pollinators. It is also an excellent variety for hanging baskets. Drought-tolerant amd very hardy, it appreciates well-drained soils, in full sun, and requires little maintenance.

Belonging to the botanical family Lamiaceae, Nepeta faassenii Nova® ‘Blue’, commonly called catmint or catnip, is a herbaceous perennial with a semi-erect and slightly spreading habit. It is a cultivar recently introduced in Israel through Danziger's URC programme. It is a sterile hybrid, resulting from the cross between Nepeta racemosa and N. nepetella. Nova® Blue is distinguished by its very early flowering, more abundant, larger flowers and a more structured habit. This plant shows finely toothed grey-green foliage, dense and aromatic when crushed. It quickly forms a compact clump of 20cm in height and 50-60cm in spread. The foliage does not become bare in the centre of the clump and effectively covers the ground. The tubular, two-lipped flowers, borne in spikes above the foliage, are bright lavender blue. They appear between May and June and can repeat until autumn (September/October). The foliage is deciduous.

Nepeta Nova® ‘Blue’ is a little gem for enlivening natural scenes, as well as terraces and balconies. In border edges, it highlights stepping stones or gravel paths. In pots or hanging baskets, its soft habit and generous flowering are every bit as good as those of calibrachoas or mini petunias. It loves sun and well-drained soils, making it an ideal companion for ornamental grasses for dry soil, as well as dwarf gauras, baby sages or lavandins. It is a beautiful foil for landscape roses. It can also be integrated into a dry garden among Corsican spurges or artemisias.
 

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Nepeta, cat mint: planting, cultivation, pruning and maintenance
Family sheet
by Alexandra 16 min.
Nepeta, cat mint: planting, cultivation, pruning and maintenance
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Nepeta faassenii Nova® Blue - Catnip in pictures

Nepeta faassenii Nova® Blue - Catnip (Flowering) Flowering
Nepeta faassenii Nova® Blue - Catnip (Plant habit) Plant habit

Flowering

Flower colour mauve
Flowering time May to September
Inflorescence Cluster
Fragrance slightly scented
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour grey or silver
Aromatic? Fragrant foliage when creased

Plant habit

Height at maturity 20 cm
Spread at maturity 50 cm
Growth rate fast

Botanical data

Genus

Nepeta

Species

x faassenii

Cultivar

Nova® Blue (PP16,068)

Family

Lamiaceae

Other common names

Faassen's catnip, Catmint

Botanical synonyms

Nepeta x faassenii 'Nova Blue'

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference24878

Planting and care

Plant Nepeta Nova® ‘Blue’ in spring or early autumn, in well-drained soil that is light to stony, even poor. In open ground, position it in full sun, spacing the plants about 40 to 50 cm apart to allow them room to thrive. Regular watering at planting encourages rooting, but the plant quickly becomes drought-tolerant. 
In a pot, use a container at least 25 cm in diameter, with a draining substrate such as potting soil mixed with sand or pumice. Remember to raise the pot to ensure good water drainage. Flowering will be more abundant if you remove spent spikes throughout the season. Nova® ‘Blue’ is very hardy, easily tolerating temperatures down to –25 °C (zone 5). This plant requires neither winter mulch nor special protection, but you should avoid excess moisture in winter.

In heavy soils, dig a hole 3 times larger than the volume of the pot and mix into your topsoil 1/3 gravel and 1/3 sand to lighten the soil while avoiding water stagnation in winter.

Planting period

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time March to May, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Rockery
Type of use Edge of border, Container, Slope
Hardiness Hardy down to -18°C (USDA zone 7a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Planting density 5 per m2
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Neutral, Calcareous
Soil type Chalky (poor, alkaline and well-drained), Silty-loamy (rich and light), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Dry soil, Moist soil very well-draining, light

Care

Pruning instructions Remove faded flowers to encourage new flowering and new foliage.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time June to August
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

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