Nepeta : cat mint should I buy more ?

[StatuteofLiberty]

I've just seen this beautiful plant for the first time today in my garden center .
Should I buy more ( I got two on offer ).

Does it survive well , will it come back next year ? How large and busy does it grow and does it need deadheading

I have a cat and don't want more will it attract cats
Thank you

Last year I brought russian salvia or something with big blue spires and it died

Yes it will attract cats and they’ll roll in it and flatten it down. I’ve had them for years, they are very reliable. Flower in early summer but then if you cut back you might get a second flush. I wait until very early spring when the new growth appears and cut all the dead stems off. It does get quite straggly but I like that floppy look.

For a purple flowered plant geranium Rozanne is amazing. Flowers all summer into autumn.

Yes it will return.
It's habit depends on the specific type of nepeta you bought.
Its very frequently sold so I'd wait to see how you like it and how it does in your garden.

Oh ok I thought it might flower all summer

It probably will if you treat it well and cut back at the right time. I’m too lazy really to keep on top of that.

I have several in my garden ( Scotland) . It flowers all summer. I cut back the dead bits a couple of times. The bees love it.

Catmint has a special place in my heart as my childhood garden was filled with it; the scent is amazing.

I have Labradors. Don’t see the same cat twice in our garden.

All the local cats will love it and roll all over it. It is fun watching them all lolling about looking drugged.

its lovely as long as you like plants with completely flattened centres.. The cats will get it straight away

I bought some because I love it. The neighbours cat ate it whilst it was a young plant. The rest I think went after a very wet winter. None of it came back, I was really disappointed!

@msmillicentcat what a shame !
I gave my car a little sprig this evening for the first time it was interesting to see !

I don't want other cats in our garden though .

My two cats have basically been high since the nepeta started to do its thing a few weeks ago.

@Aleiha it's fascinating !

It is a lovely plant - bees love it! It needs a lot of sun.

If you decide you would like a few more plants just snip a few stems off, trim off the flowering parts and stick them in a glass of water. In a couple of weeks they will have rooted and can be planted out. Lovely plant.