Nepeta grandiflora Bramdean - Catnip

Nepeta grandiflora 'Bramdean' is one of the most ornamental giant catnips. This large perennial herb is similar to 'Six Hills Giant', but more robust, hardier, and with a longer flowering period. Above a beautiful tuft of grey-green and fragrant foliage, its profusion of leafy stems disappear under tiny blue-violet flowers, fading to a lovely indigo blue. It is an undemanding variety that will tolerate a sunny exposure and well-drained, poor, soil. A lovely companion for old roses and English roses!

Nepetas belong to the lamiaceae or labiate family. 'Bramdean' is a beautiful selection of N. grandiflora, introduced in 1999 and awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society in England. This large, hardy perennial is native to the Caucasus. Very similar in appearance to 'Six Hills Giant', the whorls of flowers are denser on its purple stems, and its blue-violet flowers are enclosed in indigo blue bracts that remain very colourful and decorative after flowering. This perennial forms an erect, somewhat loose and bushy a minimum of 70 cm (28in) high, with a spread of at least 50 cm (20in), reaching maturity in one year. It flowers from June to September with fragrant flowers, grouped in spikes, 3 cm (1in) in length, open from dawn to dusk, loved by bees and butterflies. The dark green-grey foliage is luxuriant and aromatic with ovate, scalloped, slightly hairy leaves, 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4in) long. It is one of the tallest and most floriferous varieties and tolerates occasional drought. The leaves are also attractive to cats.

Nepeta grandiflora 'Bramdean' is easy to grow and will find its place in borders, at the base of pink roses (Mme Isaac Péreire), yellow roses like 'Charles Darwin', or orange-pink roses like 'Westerland', to mask their unsightly base. In flower beds, it pairs well with poppies, valerians, 'Canon Went' linaria, in the second row behind carnations or perennial geraniums, leaning on a line of flowering bushes, such as abelias, kolkwitzias, or brooms (cytisus scoparius). It also works as a large ground cover on slopes, with gauras and scabious. To give its best, it requires space and sunlight.