Cat's Pajamas Catmint

Cat's Pajamas Catmint (Nepeta x 'Cat's Pajamas')

Cat's Pajamas Catmint (Nepeta x 'Cat's Pajamas') is a compact, sun-loving perennial grown for its dense, low habit and its long season of deep blue to violet-blue flowers that stack along the stems for a full, saturated look. It blooms heavily from late spring into summer, and with a quick trim after the first flush, it often reblooms and keeps color going well into the warm season. Because the flowers form from the base upward, the plant looks covered in bloom instead of bare at the bottom, making it especially valuable for the front of beds and along paths. With its tidy size, rich color, and steady performance, Cat's Pajamas Catmint makes an excellent focal point when you want a compact ribbon of blue that stays neat all season.

Distinctive Features

The standout feature is the bloom coverage, with flower spikes that run along the stems and create a fuller, more intense color effect than many older catmints. Leaves are gray-green, lightly fuzzy, and aromatic, adding soft texture and a clean look even between bloom cycles. The plant stays compact and mounded, helping borders look finished without flopping or sprawling. It is also a strong pollinator plant, drawing bees and other beneficial insects throughout its long flowering window.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun is best; tolerates light shade but may flower less.
• Soil: Well-drained soil; performs best in average to lean soils and does not like wet feet.
• Water: Moderate; water regularly during establishment, then water during extended dry spells.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8.
• Habit: Compact, mounding perennial with dense flower spikes.
• Mature Size: About 12 to 14 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Use as a compact blue accent at the front of beds where the dense bloom coverage can be enjoyed up close.
• Border Edging: Creates a clean, repeatable line along walks, patios, and perennial borders.
• Rock Gardens and Sunny Slopes: Well-suited to well-drained sites where compact plants are needed.
• Pollinator Plantings: Supports bees and beneficial insects during a long flowering season.
• Companion Planting: Pairs well with roses, salvias, echinacea, rudbeckia, and ornamental grasses for a balanced, colorful look.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Water consistently the first season; after that, water during prolonged drought.
• Shearing: Trim back after the first heavy bloom to encourage fresh growth and rebloom.
• Soil Management: Avoid overly rich or constantly wet soils, which can reduce performance.
• Fertilizing: Usually not needed; a light spring feeding is enough in poor soils.
• Spacing: Provide airflow to help foliage stay clean in humid weather.
• Dividing: Divide every few years if clumps become woody or less vigorous.

Why Choose Cat's Pajamas Catmint?

• Full-Stem Blooming: Flowers stack along stems for a fuller, more saturated blue display.
• Compact Habit: Stays low and tidy for edging and smaller garden spaces.
• Aromatic Foliage: Soft, gray-green leaves add texture and a polished look between bloom cycles.
• Pollinator Support: Flowers attract bees and other beneficial insects through the season.
• Strong Focal Point Value: Delivers dense blue color and tidy structure where the eye naturally lands.

If you want a compact catmint that stays neat and looks covered in blue blooms for weeks, Cat's Pajamas Catmint adds focal point color, soft texture, and reliable performance in sunny, well-drained beds.