Nepeta grandiflora Summer Magic - Catnip

Nepeta grandiflora 'Summer Magic' was selected at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2013, and is one of the most reliable and floriferous giant catnips. This dwarf variety with grey-green, aromatic foliage keeps producing large spikes of lavender-blue nectar-rich flowers from May to October if the soil remains slightly moist. It is so undemanding that it will be satisfied with a very sunny exposure and well-drained soil, even poor, limestone or clay. A beautiful companion for heucheras, saxifrages, and old or English roses!

Nepeta belong to the lamiaceae or labiates family. 'Summer Magic' is a very beautiful selection of N. grandiflora, a dwarf but floriferous form of this large perennial native to the Caucasus. It is very hardy, similar in appearance to 'Six Hills Giant', but more robust, its floral spikes are denser, taller, and stand for a very long time. This perennial forms an upright, dense, and bushy clump, 35 cm (14in) tall, with a spread of at least 45 cm (18in), reaching its mature size in one year. The flowering extends from May-June to September-October. The flowers are grouped in spikes, are 1 cm (0in) long and remain open from dawn to dusk. They are nectar-rich and attract many bees and butterflies. The leaves are small, dark green-grey and very aromatic when crushed, oval, serrated, slightly hairy, and 2 to 4 cm (1 to 2in) long. It is one of the most compact and floriferous varieties and tolerates occasional drought. The leaves are attractive to cats.

Nepeta grandiflora 'Summer Magic' is a remarkable, easy to grow plant for borders and flower beds at the base of pink roses (Mme Isaac Péreire, Stanwell Perpetual, Ispahan), yellow roses like 'Charles Darwin', or pink-orange roses like 'Westerland', to conceal their unsightly base. In a flower bed, it goes well with columbines, valerians, and 'Canon Went' linaria, in the second row behind carnations or perennial geraniums, in front of flowering shrubs like abelias, kolkwitzias, or broom (cytisus scoparius). It also works very well as large ground cover on slopes, with gauras and scabious. It needs space and sunlight to give its best. Planted with Stachys 'Silver Carpet', Alchemilla mollis and pretty grasses like Andropogon gerardii or yellow daylilies (citrina), it can be remarkable.

Fun fact: Catnip is  a sort of drug for some cats. They rub against the plant for several minutes to get a pleasant feeling for up to 2 hours. But don't worry, it is harmless.