Nepeta 'Cat's Pajamas'

Nepeta 'Cat’s Pajamas': Compact Calm with a Cloud of Blue

Softly aromatic and endlessly charming, Nepeta 'Cat’s Pajamas' is a compact catmint that bursts into bloom with waves of indigo-blue flowers from the base of the plant to the tips. Early to flower and long to last, this low-growing favourite forms a tidy mound that hums with pollinator activity from spring to fall.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 30–35 cm
• Spread: 45–60 cm, forming a dense, rounded mound
• Flower Colour: Indigo blue with dark calyxes
• Flowering Period: Late spring through early fall
• Foliage: Aromatic, grey-green leaves with a fine texture
• Sunlight Requirements: Full sun
• Soil Requirements: Well-drained soil; tolerates dry and lean soils once established

Uses and Benefits: Nepeta 'Cat’s Pajamas' is ideal for edging sunny paths, softening the front of borders, and weaving through rock gardens or dry plantings. Its fragrant foliage deters deer and rabbits, while its blooms draw bees and butterflies in abundance. The compact habit makes it perfect for containers, small gardens, and modern mixed plantings, offering soothing colour and a relaxed, cottage-garden feel.

Companion Plants: Pair Nepeta 'Cat’s Pajamas' with Achillea 'Little Moonshine' for a long-blooming duo with soft blue and sunny yellow contrast. Add Lavandula 'Munstead' to continue the fragrant, pollinator-friendly palette in harmonious hues. Introduce Festuca 'Boulder Blue' for cool-toned texture that echoes the catmint’s foliage and enhances the low, mounded form.

Care Instructions: Plant in full sun with well-drained soil. Once established, it is drought-tolerant and thrives in lean, gravelly sites. Shear lightly after the first bloom to encourage repeat flowering. Cut back in early spring to maintain compactness. Divide every 3–4 years to rejuvenate dense clumps.

History: Nepeta 'Cat’s Pajamas' is a Proven Winners® selection prized for its early bloom, extended flowering period, and tidy habit. It was developed to improve on older varieties with a more floriferous display and neater garden performance.

Final Thoughts: Neat, fragrant, and floriferous, Nepeta 'Cat’s Pajamas' brings a cool, calming presence to sunny garden spaces—perfect for softening the edges while feeding the bees.