Nepeta 'Sylvester Blue Catmint'

Sylvester Blue Catmint | Nepeta x faassenii ‘Sylvester Blue’ | Faassen’s Catmint | Nepeta ‘Sylvester Blue’

Nepeta is an exceptionally vigorous, long-blooming herbaceous perennial prized for its tidy, mounding habit and a continuous profusion of striking, vibrant violet-blue flower spikes set against aromatic, silvery-green foliage. This incredibly resilient, heat- and drought-tolerant selection is known for its compact form that refuses to flop, even in the height of summer. Its nectar-rich blossoms are an absolute magnet for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making it a spectacular, low-maintenance thriller and edger for sunny landscape borders, rock gardens, and mixed patio containers. With its classic, soft texture and reliable performance through challenging conditions, Sylvester Blue Nepeta offers an extraordinary, non-stop display of cool-toned color from early summer through fall with exceptionally straightforward care.

Growing Nepeta

Light: Full sun to partial shade; thrives in bright, direct sunlight (at least 6 to 8 hours per day) to produce the most abundant blooms, the strongest stems, and maintain a tight, compact form.

Soil: Light, well-drained soil; highly adaptable to poor, sandy, or rocky soils as long as drainage is adequate. It performs best in average soils and can struggle or become floppy in overly rich, wet, or heavy clay soils.

Water: Low to moderate; water regularly until established, then allow the top few inches of soil to dry out completely between waterings. It is exceptionally drought-tolerant once mature and strongly dislikes consistently wet feet.

Maintenance: Exceptionally low maintenance. Shear the plant back by about a third after its initial heavy flush of blooms to rejuvenate the foliage, maintain a neat shape, and encourage a vigorous second wave of flowering later in the season.

Wildlife: Highly attractive to bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies; naturally deer- and rabbit-resistant due to its strongly aromatic, minty foliage.

Hardiness: Perennial in USDA zones 3–9; exceptionally cold-hardy and reliable across a wide range of climates.

Shipping Info

Sylvester Blue Nepeta plants are shipped as healthy young starts in 4" nursery pots. Allow 1–2 weeks after arrival for plants to recover from shipping and resume active growth before repotting or planting outdoors.