Flower Garden · Seed to Bloom
How to grow catmint
Grow catmint from seed for a soft mound of aromatic gray-green foliage, lavender-blue flower spikes, and long-lived sunny-border color.
Flower profile
Build a fragrant, drought-tolerant border mound.
Catmint forms a spreading mound of aromatic foliage topped by airy lavender-blue spikes. Once established, it is durable in sun and useful along paths, borders, and dry garden edges.
catmint at a glance
From fine seed to a flowering perennial mound
Planting
Start shallow, then prioritize drainage.
The seed is small and should stay close to the surface. Grow seedlings brightly and transplant into a sunny, well-drained permanent site.
Surface sow or cover lightly
Press seed into moist mix or cover no more than ⅛ inch.
Provide warmth and bright light
Maintain steady moisture through germination, then reduce humidity and prevent stretching.
Space for a mature mound
Harden seedlings and plant 18–24 inches apart after frost danger.
Ongoing care
Keep plants healthy and flowers productive
Maximize sun
Full sun produces compact growth and the strongest flowering.
Water through establishment
Once rooted, catmint tolerates dry intervals better than wet soil.
Avoid rich feeding
Excess fertility makes mounds loose and floppy.
Shear after bloom
Cut back the first flush by roughly one-third to refresh foliage and flowers.
Season checkpoints
Follow the plant’s visible progress.
Seedlings emerge
Plants fill pots
Mounds establish
Fresh bloom develops
Border care and cutting
Shear cleanly to renew the mound.
Enjoy catmint in the landscape or cut flower spikes when the lower florets are open. After the first major flush fades, shear stems evenly and water once to encourage regrowth.
- Use clean shears.
- Avoid cutting into bare woody crown tissue.
- Remove only about one-third at a time.
Urban Farmer selections
Grow the classic lavender-blue mound
Perennial · lavender blueMussinii faasseniiQuestions flower gardeners ask
Catmint growing FAQ
When should catmint seed be started?
Start indoors about 8–10 weeks before the last expected frost.
Should seed be covered?
Surface sow or cover very lightly, no more than about ⅛ inch.
How long does germination take?
Allow roughly 14–21 days under warm bright conditions.
How far apart should plants be?
Space about 18–24 inches for mature mounds.
Does catmint need full sun?
Full sun gives the best form and flowering, though light shade is tolerated.
What soil is best?
Use average to lean, sharply drained soil.
When should catmint be cut back?
Shear after the first heavy bloom flush fades.
Is catmint drought tolerant?
Established plants tolerate dry intervals, but new transplants need regular water.
Is catmint the same as catnip?
No. They are related Nepeta species but are grown for different traits.
Can catmint grow in containers?
Yes; use a large drained pot and divide or refresh mature plants as needed.
Ready to plant?