Nepeta racemosa Amelia - Catnip

Nepeta racemosa 'Amelia', also known as catmint, is a selection with pink flowers renowned for its qualities, awarded with a Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit. It forms a compact clump of aromatic grey-green foliage from which flexible stems with arching clusters of lilac-pink flowers rise, constantly renewing from June to September. It does not require staking and shows resistance to harsh weather conditions. This creeping, deciduous to semi-evergreen perennial is well adapted to drought. For gardeners in the north, it is the equivalent of lavender which is grown more successfully in the south. Used in the same way, it finds a place at the edge, in rockeries, or in large containers. It appreciates well-drained soils and sunny exposures.

Nepeta racemosa 'Amelia' belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It is a selection of Nepeta racemosa, originating from the Caucasus and northern Iran. This perennial forms a dense, bushy, creeping clump, 40 cm in height, with a spread of at least 50 cm from spring, the plant quickly reaching its adult size. The flowering period extends from June to September. The nectar-rich, pale pink flowers, grouped in spikes, measure 3 cm in length and attract a large number of bees and butterflies. The foliage is velvety, silver matte green, and the leaves are very aromatic when crushed. They are ovate, crinkled, slightly hairy, and measure 2 to 3 cm in length. It is one of the most adaptable species, tolerating drought well. Its leaves are also attractive to cats.

Nepeta racemosa 'Amelia' is a gardener-friendly plant, easy to grow and ideal for integrating into flower beds. It is useful for planting at the base of yellow roses like 'Buff Beauty' or pink-orange roses like 'Westerland', which it conceals by masking their sometimes unattractive base. In the border, it pairs perfectly in the foreground with lamb's ears, valerian, Knautia macedonia, pinks (Dianthus gratianopolitanus), or perennial geraniums (Geranium cinereum, Geranium sanguineum), supported by a line of perennials with simultaneous flowering such as Linaria dalmatica, verbena bonariensis, and gauras. It is also suitable for use as a ground cover on slopes and rockeries, combined with scabious, skullcaps, and Santolina virens. It is equally charming when crowning walls with its airy vegetation, and also thrives in containers.

Fun fact: Catnip acts as a sort of drug on some cats. They start by looking up and moving their heads before rubbing against the plant for several minutes. The pleasure reaction no longer occurs after 15 minutes and lasts for 2 hours. But don't worry, it is harmless to them.