Nepeta grandiflora Zinsers Giant - Catnip

Nepeta grandiflora 'Zinser's Giant' is a vigorous giant catmint. It is an imposing variety that blooms early in the season and for a long period. This perennial quickly forms a bunch of stems covered in sky-blue flowers, enclosed in purple bracts. A very beautiful recent selection, with rapid growth, perfectly hardy and undemanding. It will be satisfied with a very sunny exposure and well-drained, even poor soil. A lovely companion for old roses and English roses.

Nepeta belongs to the Lamiaceae family. 'Zinser's Giant' is a very beautiful selection of N. grandiflora, recently introduced to the horticultural market. This large perennial, native to the Caucasus, is particularly hardy. From spring, it forms an erect, slightly loose and bushy clump, 90cm (35in) tall, with a spread of at least 70cm (28in), reaching its adult size in one year. The flowering period extends from May to August. The sky-blue flowers, supported by purple bracts, are grouped in spikes. They measure 3cm (1in) in length, and remain open from dawn to dusk. The nectar-rich blooms attract a large number of bees and butterflies. The dark greenish-grey evergreen foliage is luxuriant, and the leaves are aromatic when crushed. They are ovate, crenate, slightly pubescent, and measure 5 to 10cm (2 to 4in) in length. It is currently the tallest, earliest flowering variety, and one of the most floriferous. It occasionally tolerates drought. The leaves are attractive to cats.

Nepeta grandiflora 'Zinger's Giant' is a remarkable garden plant, easy to grow, and present throughout the year. Its foliage can hide the sometimes unsightly bare stems of roses. Plant nepeta in a flower bed with pink roses ('Madame Isaac Péreire'), yellow ones like 'Charles Darwin', or pink-orange ones like 'Westerland'. In flower borders, it pairs well with columbines, valerians, Linaria 'Canon Went'. Plant it in the second row behind carnations or perennial geraniums, leaning on a line of flowering shrubs such as abelias, kolkwitzias, or brooms (Cytisus scoparius). It also works very well as a large ground cover on embankments, in the company of gauras and scabious. It requires space and sunshine.

Little story: Catnip acts as a sort of drug on some cats. They start by looking up and moving their head before rubbing against the plant for several minutes. Don't worry; it is perfectly harmless to our felines!