Product Description
Nepeta 'Catwalk Queen' PPAF CPBRAF - Proven Winners® (25) Bare Root Plants
Common Name: Catmint
Introducing 'Catwalk Queen' Catmint, a truly exceptional perennial that promises to elevate the beauty and charm of any garden or landscape. This remarkable cultivar stands out with its striking lavender-blue blooms, which are not only abundant but also exceptionally large, more than double the size of typical Catmint varieties. The individual flower panicles are notably long, contributing to an extended period of bloom before the plant eventually requires a cutback. 'Catwalk Queen' is further distinguished by its exceptionally thick leaves, held on a stocky, sturdy, and compact habit. This makes it an ideal choice for lining the front of garden borders or for filling in challenging, hot, and dry garden spaces where other plants might struggle. As with other Nepeta varieties, the stems of 'Catwalk Queen' release a distinctive aroma when broken, which is known to attract cats, hence its common name, Catmint. Nepetas are widely cherished as easy-to-grow perennials that consistently deliver a beautiful display of color throughout the entire summer.
- Height: Matures to a compact height of 10 to 12 inches (25-30 cm).
- Spread: Forms a spreading clump with a width of 18 to 20 inches (46-51 cm).
- Foliage: Features exceptionally thick, green-shaded leaves, held on strong, sturdy stems, contributing to a dense and attractive mound.
- Flowers: Produces exceptionally large, lavender-blue blooms arranged in long panicles.
- Bloomtime: Offers an extended blooming season from Early Summer through Midsummer, Late Summer, and into Early Fall, making it a Long Blooming variety.
- Flower Color: Blue shades (Lavender-blue)
- Foliage Color: Green shades
- Bloomtime: Early Summer, Midsummer, Late Summer, Early Fall (Long Blooming)
- Growth Rate: Medium
- Attracts Wings: Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Bee Friendly
- Critter Resistant: Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant
- Other Features: Border Plant, Container Plant, Cut Flower, Cut Foliage, Dried Flower, Drought Tolerant, Easy to Grow, Edging, Fragrant Flowers, Fragrant Foliage, Attractive Foliage, Mass Planting.
'Catwalk Queen' Catmint represents a significant improvement in Nepeta cultivars, primarily due to its dramatically larger flowers and robust, compact growth habit. Its extended bloom time ensures a continuous splash of lavender-blue color in the garden for months. The plant's aromatic foliage, while attractive to felines, also contributes to its appeal as a fragrant garden element. Its drought tolerance and adaptability to various soil conditions make it a low-maintenance superstar.
Nepeta species, commonly known as Catmint, are native to a wide range of temperate regions across Europe, Asia, and Africa. They are typically found in dry, rocky, and open habitats, reflecting their preference for full sun and well-drained soils.
Landscaping Design Tips
'Catwalk Queen' Catmint is a highly versatile and valuable plant for numerous garden applications, especially in sunny, well-drained locations.
- Front of the Border: Its compact and sturdy habit makes it perfect for lining the front of perennial borders, creating a neat and colorful edge.
- Edging Plant: Use it to define pathways, garden beds, or patio areas, providing a soft, flowing line of fragrant foliage and continuous blooms.
- Mass Planting: For a truly impactful and expansive display, mass plant 'Catwalk Queen' in large sweeps or drifts. This creates a breathtaking sea of lavender-blue flowers and fragrant foliage, providing excellent groundcover, suppressing weeds, and attracting pollinators on a grand scale. It is particularly effective in prairie-style plantings or large, sunny beds.
- Hot, Dry Spaces: Its exceptional drought tolerance makes it an ideal solution for challenging hot, dry garden spaces, rock gardens, or xeriscapes where other plants might struggle.
- Patio Containers: Its compact size and extended bloom make it a wonderful choice for patio containers, bringing its charm and fragrance closer to outdoor living areas.
- Pollinator Gardens: A superb addition to pollinator gardens, as its nectar-rich flowers are highly attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees.
- Cottage and Eclectic Gardens: Fits seamlessly into the informal charm of Cottage gardens and the diverse plantings of Eclectic styles.
- Fragrant Gardens: Incorporate into sensory gardens or near seating areas to enjoy their pleasant, minty fragrance, especially when leaves are brushed.
- Cut and Dried Flowers: The beautiful lavender-blue blooms can be used as fresh cut flowers for arrangements or dried for everlasting floral crafts.
Nepeta 'Catwalk Queen' is a remarkably hardy perennial, reliably performing in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 8. This broad range ensures its successful cultivation in many temperate climates.
Planting and Cultivation (Bare Root)
- Bare Root Planting: Upon arrival, inspect bare roots. If they appear dry, soak them in lukewarm water for 30 minutes to an hour. Dig a hole wide enough to accommodate the spread of the roots and deep enough so that the crown (where roots meet stems) is at or slightly below the soil surface. Spread the roots gently outwards. Backfill with soil, gently firming around the roots to remove air pockets. Water thoroughly.
- Sunlight: Requires Full Sun (more than 6 hours of direct sun per day) for optimal growth and flowering.
- Soil Requirements: Adaptable to a wide range of soils, preferring ordinary, well-drained soil. It tolerates Poor Soil Quality to Average Soil Quality. It thrives in Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0) to Alkaline Soil (pH > 7.0). Good drainage is crucial to prevent root rot.
- Water Requirements: Has Low Water Needs to Average Water Needs once established. It is highly drought-tolerant, making it an excellent choice for xeriscaping. Water regularly during the establishment phase, then reduce frequency.
- Shearing:
- Spring Shearing: Shear the plant back in early spring before new growth fully emerges. This promotes more compact and bushy growth throughout the season.
- Post-Bloom Shearing: After the first flush of blooms in early summer, cut back the plants by approximately half. This vigorous shearing encourages a second, often robust, cycle of blooms, extending the flowering period well into fall.
- Maintenance: Generally low maintenance. Deadheading individual spent flowers is not necessary, as the plant reblooms effectively with shearing.
- Pest and Disease: Highly resistant to deer and rabbits, and generally trouble-free from most pests and diseases.
Mature field grown roots shipped bare root.
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
