Catmint Nepeta 'Veluws Blauwtje'

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Nepeta 'Veluws Blauwtje', commonly known as Catmint, has a distinctive appearance characterized by its soft, fragrant foliage and delicate flowers. The leaves are typically heart-shaped to oval, often with a slightly scalloped or jagged edge, and have a gray-green color that can sometimes appear silvery. They are covered in fine hairs, which gives them a soft, velvety texture. The flowers of the Catmint are small, tubular, and usually a shade of lavender or blue, clustering on spikes that rise above the foliage. These blooms are beloved by pollinators such as bees and butterflies. When in full bloom, the plant appears as a frothy, billowy mass of color, creating a light, airy effect in the garden. The blooms can continue for an extended period, often from late spring through the end of summer, sometimes extending into early fall. The overall form of the Catmint is mounded and bushy, with stems that can be both erect and sprawling, giving it a relaxed, informal look. This perennial herb often forms dense clumps and spreads to fill in the space, making it a popular choice for borders and garden beds where a touch of soft, cool color is desired.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Lamiaceae
- Synonyms
  Catmint, Blue Catnip
- Common names
  Nepeta 'Veluws Blauwtje'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  Catmint, including the variety Nepeta 'Veluws Blauwtje', is generally considered safe for humans. There is little to no toxicity associated with this plant, and it is often used in gardens without issue. Ingesting it typically does not lead to any significant poisoning symptoms in humans. However, individuals with specific allergies or sensitivities to plants in the Lamiaceae family may experience mild reactions.
- To pets
  Catmint, specifically the Nepeta 'Veluws Blauwtje' variety, is also generally safe for pets, including cats and dogs. It is not known to be toxic to pets. In fact, catmint can have a mild stimulant effect on cats; they may roll in it, chew on it, or rub against it due to the presence of the compound nepetalactone. This behavioral reaction is usually harmless and temporary. Dogs are less likely to show any interest in the plant, and it is not considered poisonous to them. However, as with any non-food plant, ingestion of large amounts could potentially cause mild gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting or diarrhea due to the mechanical irritation of plant matter, rather than toxicity.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Blue
- Height
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Spread
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  3-8
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attracts pollinators: Nepeta 'Veluws Blauwtje', commonly known as Catmint, draws bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects to the garden, aiding in pollination.
- Low maintenance: Catmint is known for being easy to care for, requiring minimal attention once established.
- Drought tolerance: Catmint can withstand periods of dry weather, making it suitable for water-wise gardens.
- Rabbit and deer resistance: The aromatic foliage of Catmint is generally unappealing to rabbits and deer, reducing the risk of grazing.
- Ornamental appeal: With its lavender-blue flowers and gray-green foliage, Catmint adds aesthetic value to garden beds and borders.
- Herbal scent: The plant emits a pleasant fragrance that can contribute to a sensory garden experience.
- Long blooming period: Catmint flowers for an extended period, providing color and interest throughout the spring and summer months.
- Growth habit: Catmint forms tidy mounds that can be used for edging or in rock gardens, offering structural versatility in landscaping.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Cat attraction: Catmint, including Nepeta 'Veluws Blauwtje', can be used to attract cats to certain areas of the garden or used in cat toys to provide enjoyment for feline companions.
- Natural pest repellent: The strong scent of Nepeta 'Veluws Blauwtje' can help repel certain garden pests and insects like aphids, thereby acting as a natural pest control solution.
- Garden border edging: Due to its compact size and attractive flowers, it can be used to create aesthetically pleasing edges along garden paths and borders.
- Companion planting: Catmint is useful in companion planting because it can attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, enhancing the pollination of surrounding plants.
- Erosion control: The plant's root system may help in stabilizing soil and preventing erosion on slopes and banks in a garden landscape.
- Herbal sachets: Dried leaves and flowers can be used in herbal sachets to impart a pleasant fragrance to drawers and closets.
- Water-wise gardening: Catmint is drought tolerant and can be incorporated into water-efficient landscaping plans.
- Groundcover: It's an effective groundcover for areas where you want to suppress weeds with its dense foliage.
- Photography: The plant's attractive blooms make it a good subject for garden photography and botanical illustration.
- Culinary flavoring: While not common, the leaves could potentially be used in small quantities as a herb to flavor certain dishes, though it is not a typical culinary herb.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Catmint is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Catmint is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Calmness - Catnip (Nepeta 'Veluws Blauwtje') is a variant of the more common catnip plant, which is known for its calming effects on cats, often symbolizing tranquility and relaxation.
- Playfulness - The way cats react to catnip, often in a playful and seemingly intoxicated manner, imbues the plant with a sense of whimsy and fun.
- Attractiveness - Catnip can also symbolize attraction, as it has a strong allure for cats, drawing them in from far and wide.
- Healing - As an herb with some medicinal uses for humans, including its calming properties and use in teas, catnip is sometimes associated with healing and therapeutic properties.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
The Catmint 'Veluws Blauwtje' should be watered regularly during its first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Once established, it is relatively drought tolerant and should be watered when the top inch of soil is dry. Typically, watering once a week with about 1 to 1.5 inches of water should suffice, though in the heat of summer, you may need to water twice weekly. Avoid overhead watering to prevent leaf diseases, instead water at the base of the plant. During the winter, reduce watering as the plant requires less moisture.
Light
Catmint 'Veluws Blauwtje' thrives in full sun to partial shade, but for optimal blooming, position it in a location where it can receive at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. The plant is adaptable to various light conditions, but too much shade can lead to fewer flowers and a less dense growth habit. The ideal spot is one with morning sun and protection from the intense afternoon heat.
Temperature
Catmint 'Veluws Blauwtje' prefers temperate climates and can generally handle temperatures as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit, though hardiness can vary slightly. It thrives in an average temperature range of 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. During extreme heat, providing some afternoon shade can help protect the plant.
Pruning
Pruning Catmint 'Veluws Blauwtje' is mainly done to maintain its shape and encourage a second bloom. After the first flowering, cut the plant back to half its height. This will typically prompt a second bloom in late summer or early fall. The best time for this pruning is immediately after the initial flowering concludes.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Catmint 'Veluws Blauwtje' thrives in well-drained soil rich in organic matter with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.5. A mixture of garden soil, compost, and perlite or coarse sand is ideal to ensure proper drainage and fertility. Mulching can help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Repotting
Catmint 'Veluws Blauwtje' generally does not require frequent repotting and can be done every 3-4 years or when it outgrows its current container. Divide clumps in spring or fall to refresh the plant and encourage vigorous growth.
Humidity & Misting
Catmint 'Veluws Blauwtje' prefers moderate to low humidity levels and is quite tolerant of dry air, making it suitable for a variety of climates. This plant does not have specific high humidity requirements, thus making it adaptable.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in a sunny spot, water moderately.
- Outdoor
  Plant in full sun, well-draining soil.
- Hardiness zone
  3-8 USDA
Life cycle
Nepeta 'Veluws Blauwtje', also known as Catmint, begins its life cycle as a seed, which, when sown in fertile, well-drained soil and with adequate sunlight and warmth, will germinate. As a perennial, it emerges in spring with shoots and leaves, which rapidly grow into a mound of aromatic, grey-green foliage. By late spring or early summer, Nepeta 'Veluws Blauwtje' produces a profusion of lavender-blue flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, initiating the reproductive stage. After blooming, if the flowers are not deadheaded, they may produce seeds which can be dispersed to propagate new plants. As autumn arrives, the above-ground parts of the plant begin to die back, although the root system remains alive and dormant throughout the winter. With the return of warmer temperatures in the following spring, Catmint resumes growth from the rootstock, repeating its lifecycle.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- Nepeta 'Veluws Blauwtje', commonly known as catmint, is most effectively propagated through stem cuttings. This method is usually undertaken during the late spring or early summer when the plant is actively growing. To propagate catmint by stem cuttings, a gardener should select a healthy, non-flowering stem and cut a 4 to 6-inch (10 to 15 cm) portion just below a node, where leaves attach to the stem. The lower leaves are then stripped, and the cut end is dipped in a rooting hormone to encourage root development. The prepared cutting is then placed in a pot filled with a well-draining soil mixture, ensuring that at least one node is buried where roots can form. The pot should be kept moist and in indirect light until the cutting has rooted, which typically takes a few weeks. Once established, the new catmint plant can be transplanted to its desired location in the garden.