Nepeta racemosa 'Blue Wonder' is a low-growing catmint that brings months of fragrant, showy blooms to gardens in zones 3 through 8. Native to the Caucasus and northern Iran, this aromatic perennial forms a compact spreading clump of gray-green, hairy leaves topped with pale lilac to deep violet two-lipped flowers from May through September. At 12 to 18 inches tall and 12 to 24 inches wide, it thrives on neglect, tolerating drought, poor soil, and urban conditions while asking almost nothing in return.
Partial Sun
Moderate
3-8
18in H x 24in W
—
High
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Blue Wonder lives up to its name with nearly five months of continuous blooming, from late spring well into fall. The pale lilac to violet flowers cluster in loose, airy spikes that seem to float above aromatic gray-green foliage, drawing butterflies and other pollinators while deer and rabbits leave it alone. Its compact habit and low maintenance demands make it one of the easiest perennials to establish, asking only well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade.
Nepeta racemosa 'Blue Wonder' serves as a ground cover and naturalized planting, spreading across borders and rock gardens where it suppresses weeds while flowering profusely. Its low, sprawling form and long season of bloom make it exceptional for edging, front-of-border placement, and cascading down slopes where its drought tolerance shines.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors at 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit about 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Blue Wonder is sterile and must be propagated by division rather than seed, so purchase nursery plants or obtain divisions from established plants.
Transplant divisions outdoors after the last frost date when soil is workable. Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart to allow for their mature spread of 12 to 24 inches.
Shear flower spikes after the initial flush of blooms to promote continued flowering through September. In areas with extreme heat and humidity, you may cut plants back before first flowering to encourage a more compact, bushier form. Taller stems may benefit from light staking or support as the season progresses.
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“Nepeta racemosa comes from the high country of the Caucasus and northern Iran, where it evolved in rocky, dry terrain. The genus itself carries ancient roots; its name derives from Latin nomenclature for aromatic plants, possibly honoring the city of Nepete (now Nepi) north of Rome in Etruria. The 'Blue Wonder' cultivar represents horticulture's refinement of this wild species, selecting for the deepest violet flowers and most reliable blooming habit for garden use.”