Description
- About this cultivar: Nepeta 'Blue Dragon' is a 2011 introduction from Janet Egger at Terranova Nurseries. Characterised by medium height, strongly upright habit, and large violet flowers. It came from a cross between Nepeta yunnanensis (smaller, more upright, and larger flowers), as the seed parent, and Nepeta nervosa (taller, greener leaves, and larger flowers), as the pollen parent. We like this one a lot as do the bees and butterflies! Doesn't flop even in the heaviest rain.
- About this genus: Nepeta (nep-e-ta) is a genus of flowering plants known commonly as catmints. The genus name is reportedly in reference to Nepete, an ancient Etruscan city. The genus contains roughly 250 species of herbs native to Europe, North Africa, and temperate parts of Asia, but has been spread worldwide by gardeners. Nepeta is in the mint family (Lamiaceae) which is apparent as soon as you look at the 2-lipped flowers or smell the leaves, some of which have a minty scent.
- Cat noses can pick up nepetalactone from Nepeta which creates a short-lived euphoric reponse. Most gardeners prefer to grow Nepeta cultivars such as 'Walker's Low' that have been selected for a shorter, bushier, more floriferous habit and for sterility - but don't let that stop you. Nepeta prefers a full sun or part sun site and is tolerant of humidity, heat, dry soils, wet soils, and coastal conditions. It is a great plant for almost anywhere- Nepeta flowers also are bee and butterfly magnets.
- Try combining Nepeta with Buddleia and ornamental grasses for a nice textural contrast. Rosa and Iris are classic companions. Often cultivated in the herb garden, Nepeta combines well with Salvia (Sage), Thymus and silvery plants like Stachys byzantina (lamb's ears). I think Nepeta are great alternative to Lavandula (they don't grow woody and are more tolerant of a wide range of conditions).
- Position: Full sun, partial shade Soil: Almost any soil, grows well in Ballyrobert Flowers: July, August, September Other features: Bees and Butterflies, Cut Flowers or Dried Flowers, Scented Hardiness: Fully hardy, grows well in Ballyrobert, H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15°C) Habit: Clump forming, bushy Foliage: Deciduous Height: 60 - 75 cm (2 - 2.5 ft) Spread: 30 - 45 cm (1 - 1.5 ft) Time to full growth: 2 to 5 years Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial
• Plants are sold in half litre sized pots (9cm pots that are nearly pint sized, about 520ml in capacity). • All the cultivars we sell have been grown and tested in our own garden (which is an RHS partner garden open to the public). • When your plants arrive they can usually be planted straight out after soaking in water for 3 or 4 minutes. A good rule of thumb; make the soil level of the pot level with the rest of your border when planting out. Another rule of thumb; nearly all our plants will grow in indirect sunlight; we are in the British Isles after all. Another rule of thumb (!); Plants usually do better in the ground, which is unsurprising because that where they can from! Containers are ok if plants are kept fed and watered during their growing months, and in a warmer place during the winter. Try not to over water! • During the year plants can be in various states of growth. The same plant delivered in early spring could be much bigger or smaller if delivered in late spring. Please be aware of this when ordering or receiving them. • Some plants may have their flowers and foliage cut back when we send them, and look a bit awful! Don't worry, it is for their own good; some plants like to travel light. Similarly bulbs, rhizomes, and some plants may be dormant or dying back for the year when you order them, they may even look dead - that is the nature of hardy perennials so don't worry. Plant them out and wait, perhaps until next year, patience is a virtue in the hardy perennial game. Eventually your hardy perennials should grow back beautiful year after year. Again, this is the nature of hardy perennials - they die back and grow back, die back and grow back, year after year after year. Some years are better than others. You get the picture! • Postage and packaging is a flat fee of £3.99 per order • If you are for some reason upset in any way please contact us - we're human.
