Nepeta or catnip: a good alternative to lavender

We are the first to admit that we love lavender. The scent, the colour, the southern feeling that the plant evokes: we love it! But the reality is that lavender is not always the easiest plant to keep in the garden. It is difficult, almost impossible, to keep the plant alive in wet clay soil. It requires a soil that drains well during the winter months. Standing water will rot the roots and then the fun will soon be gone. But don't worry, because there is a great alternative: nepeta !

Nepeta, unlike lavender, is a perennial plant that dies above ground during the winter and reappears in the spring. Nepeta is a very easy plant that does not have many demands and grows on almost any type of soil. So if you have wet clay soil, and you still want to enjoy the look of lavender, then nepeta is a good alternative . No, the plant does not suddenly smell like lavender, but if you like a fresh mint scent, then you will also be enthusiastic about this.

Nepeta starts to bloom from the end of May to the end of July. After that, you can cut the plant back short, so that flowers will appear again not much later and you will see a second very exuberant bloom. This is often from August or September until the first night frost arrives. Due to the exuberant bloom of nepeta, the flowers are often, very often, visited by bees and bumblebees. It is an insane bee magnet. The buzzing is deafening .

The name catnip already suggests that cats have a special relationship with nepeta. There are people who say that their cats roll around in it and then there are people who have never seen a cat behave strangely near the plant. Nevertheless, we can only recommend the plant. And even though you can keep lavender alive in your garden, you might also find a place for nepeta in the border.

There are many varieties of nepeta. There are some that stay small and others that grow quite large and lush. A ready-made solution for every corner of the garden.