Kitten Around Catmint (Nepeta ‘Kitten Around’) is a compact, long-blooming perennial prized for its abundant blue-purple flowers, aromatic gray-green foliage, and tidy mounding habit. Growing approximately 12-14 inches tall and 18-20 inches wide, it forms a dense, low mound that provides excellent color and texture without overwhelming smaller landscape spaces.
Beginning in late spring to early summer, colorful blue-purple flower spikes rise above the foliage and continue providing interest throughout the summer. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators, while the aromatic foliage is generally avoided by deer and rabbits.
Kitten Around is an excellent choice for perennial borders, edging, walkways, mass plantings, cottage gardens, rock gardens, or as a flowering groundcover. Once established, it handles heat and drought well and performs particularly well in sunny, well-drained locations.
More About Kitten Around Catmint
● Low Maintenance
● Moderate Growing
● Herbaceous Perennial
● Long Blooming
● Blue-Purple Flowers
● Fragrant Foliage
● Drought Tolerant Once Established
● Heat Tolerant
● Perennial Border, Edging, Walkway, Mass Planting, Cottage Garden, Rock Garden, Groundcover
● Compact, Mounding Habit
● Attracts Bees & Butterflies
● Pollinator Friendly
● Deer Resistant
● Rabbit Resistant
Height: 12-14 Inches
Spread: 18-20 Inches
Hardiness Zone: 3-8
Characteristics
● Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Part Sun
● Season of Interest: Late Spring, Summer, Fall
● Soil Moisture: Dry to Average, Well Draining
● Attributes: Compact, Mounding, Fragrant, Long Blooming
● Foliage Color: Gray-Green
● Flower Color: Blue-Purple
Care & Maintenance Tips
Planting:
Plant in full sun for the densest growth and heaviest flowering. Kitten Around can tolerate some light shade, but too much shade may result in looser growth and fewer flowers. It performs best in well-drained soil and is an excellent choice for hot, sunny locations.
Watering:
Water consistently during the first growing season to establish a strong root system. Once established, Kitten Around is drought tolerant and generally requires supplemental watering only during prolonged periods of hot, dry weather. Avoid consistently wet or poorly drained soil.
Fertilizing:
Very little fertilizer is required. If needed, apply a light application of balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring. Avoid excessive fertilization, which can encourage excessive foliage growth and a looser habit.
Pruning:
Lightly shear the plant after its first major flush of flowers to encourage fresh foliage and additional blooming. Cut old growth back in late winter or early spring before new growth begins.
