Plant Encyclopedia

Other Names:  Picture Perfect Catmint

Brand:  Walters Gardens

Description:

A very showy catmint presenting large, deep blue blooms with a violet cast, all the way up the stems; with a compact height and broad width, it is perfect for border fronts; attracts beneficial bugs to the garden; will bloom from early summer to fall

Ornamental Features

Picture Purrfect Catmint has masses of beautiful spikes of lightly-scented blue flowers with violet overtones held atop the stems from early summer to early fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. Its fragrant pointy leaves remain bluish-green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Picture Purrfect Catmint is a dense herbaceous perennial with a mounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Self-Seeding

Picture Purrfect Catmint is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Picture Purrfect Catmint will grow to be about 8 inches tall at maturity extending to 12 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 22 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 18 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under typical garden conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Picture Purrfect Catmint is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers against which the thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.