''Nepeta'' × ''faassenii'', a

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

also known as catmint and Faassen's catnip, is a primary

hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...

of garden origin. The parent species are '' Nepeta racemosa'' and ''

Nepeta nepetella ''Nepeta nepetella'', common name lesser cat-mint, is a low-growing species of catnip belonging to the family Lamiaceae. It is native to France, Spain, Italy, Algeria, and Morocco. ;Subspecies # ''Nepeta nepetella'' subsp. ''aragonensis'' (Lam.) ...

''. It is an

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

, with oval, opposite, intricately veined, gray—green

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

, on square stems. The foliage is fragrant. It grows from tall by wide.Missouri Botanical Garden: ''Nepeta'' × ''faassenii''
. accessed 1.10.2013 The plant produces small but showy, abundant, two-lipped, trumpet-shaped, soft lavender flowers, from spring through autumn. Continued blooming is encouraged by deadheading. The seeds are predominantly sterile, and so the plant will not reseed as an

invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...

, unlike some other nepeta species.High Country Gardens: ''Nepeta'' × ''faassenii'' 'Select Blue'
. accessed 1.10.2013

Cultivation

''Nepeta'' × ''faassenii'' is cultivated for its attractive aromatic foliage and masses of blue flowers, as

groundcover Groundcover or ground cover is any plant that grows over an area of ground. Groundcover provides protection of the topsoil from erosion and drought. In an ecosystem, the ground cover forms the layer of vegetation below the shrub layer known as t ...

, border edging, or in pots or

rock garden A rock garden, also known as a rockery and formerly as a rockwork, is a garden, or more often a part of a garden, with a landscaping framework of rocks, stones, and gravel, with planting appropriate to this setting. Usually these are small A ...

s. It is

drought tolerant Drought tolerance is the ability to which a plant maintains its biomass production during arid or drought conditions. Some plants are naturally adapted to dry conditions'','' surviving with protection mechanisms such as desiccation tolerance, detox ...

, and can be deer resistant. It has gained the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nort ...

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. History The Award of Garden Merit ...

. It was first cultivated by Faassen Nurseries in

Tegelen Tegelen ( li, Tegele) is a village in the municipality of Venlo, situated in the Netherlands. It was an independent municipality until 2001, when it was merged into the municipality of Venlo. Tiglian The name of the glacial stage of Tiglian (pa ...

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

, and named by Bergmans. ;Cultivars Numerous cultivars are available in the trade. *'Walker's Low' — silver grey foliage, lavender blue flowers, tall by wide, 2007 "Perennial of the Year" (by Perennial Plant Association). *'Jr. Walker' TM —PP 23,074, compact induced mutant of Walker low, small silver grey foliage, small lavender blue flowers, tall by wide, 2013 "Top Performer" (by Colorado State University Perennial Trial Garden). Bred by Michael Dobres NovaFlora LLC, introduced by Star Roses & Plants *'Blue Wonder' — blue flowers, "Missouri Botanical Garden Plant of Merit". *'Select Blue' — noticeably bluer flowers, wide. *'Six Hills Giant' — periwinkle blue flowers, tall.Walters Gardens: ''Nepeta'' × ''faassenii'' 'Six Hills Giant'
. 1.10.2013

References

External links

Kemper Center For Home Gardening — ''Nepeta'' × ''faassenii''RHS Plant Selector: ''Nepeta'' × ''faassenii'' (Garden catmint)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nepeta faassenii faassenii Hybrid plants Groundcovers Perennial plants Bird food plants Butterfly food plants Drought-tolerant plants