Six Hills Giant Catmint Plants

Six Hills Giant Catmint

If you're after a bit of stunner for a sunny spot, Six Hills Giant will fit the bill nicely. It lives up to its name by growing quickly to tower up to 1m tall, covered by early summer in a froth of pale violet-blue flowers, thickly massed on upright stems. These flowers are a magnet for bees and butterflies. The foliage covers the stems until the point at which the flowers take over, the leaves small and oval, and of the prettiest pale silvery green. It is deeply aromatic and hugely attractive to cats, of course, hence the name. 

Browse all of our perennial plants.

In the garden

This fabulous plant is a cottage-garden classic that's most at home in a sunny border or gravel garden. To thrive it needs a warm spot in moist, well-drained soil, although it will cope with light, dappled shade. Dig in some well-rotted garden compost when planting – in all but heavy clay – and keep well watered until established. Once it's settled in, it's pretty drought resistant. It might need a bit of brushwood for support towards mid-spring - put your sticks in before the plant gets to large and unwieldy. Prune back after flowering to keep the shape neat and you're likely to be rewarded with a second flowering in early autumn.

A tried-and-tested planting of roses (pale or dark pink work wonderfully) with nepeta is a timeless classic. Or combine with other sun-loving perennials such as Eryngiums, Campanulas, Stachys and Lavender for a glorious drought-tolerant south-facing border in cool blues and silvers.

Features

• Colour: violet-blue flower spikes
• Flowering: Jun-Jul
• Foliage: silvery green and aromatic
• Height: 1m
• Spread: 60cm
• Spacing: 50cm
• Position: full sun
• Soil: moist but well-drained

Did you know?

It's thought that the name Nepeta comes from the Latin for various aromatic plants that included catmint. It may have been named after the city of Nepeta (now known as Nepi), north of Rome, recognised, before the rise of Rome, as the centre of Etruscan civilisation.

Dig in some garden compost or leaf mould when planting, in sun or light shade, in a roomy borders. Space 50-60cm apart and water in well. Keep watered until established.

May need staking in spring.Prune after flowering to encourage a second flush of blooms.