Catmint
A common sterile garden catmint; from May to September, especially when cut back, it reblooms and gives honey bees nectar for months, a top border plant.
- Nectar
- Good
- Pollen
- Low
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 0,3-0,5 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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A sterile garden hybrid between Nepeta racemosa and Nepeta nepetella; some cultivars sold under the same name are actually selections of Nepeta racemosa. It is very common in European gardens, park borders and roadside planting. Honey bees and bumblebees visit its lavender-blue flowers constantly; its nectar is good and its pollen scarce.
Flowering
It starts flowering at the end of May. If the plant is cut back by half when the first flowering is over, it flowers again within 3-4 weeks and can stay in flower until September. It tolerates drought, heat and poor soil.
Honey and pollen
Plantings are small, so it has no separate value for honey production; in urban beekeeping it matters as a reliable source lasting all summer.
Note for the beekeeper
Planting it as a border around the apiary and in town gardens is recommended. Being sterile, it does not spread; it is propagated by division or cuttings.