A newer, dwarf variety of catmint, Neptune Nepeta brings a diminutive burst of deep green and bright purple to the front of the garden border. Like all nepetas, Neptune is a pollinator magnet, attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Drought tolerant; works well in the ground or containers.a

I purchased this plant along with a slew of other drought-tolerant perennials at Loen Nursery in Oregon. I remember being won over first by the fresh look of the green foliage and second by the brilliant purple flowers. At the time of the Oregon trip, we’d already had a long string of dry weather, so this fresh-looking plant was extra inviting. Plus, a plant that is drought-tolerant but doesn’t look drought-tolerant is extra amazing.

I planted our new Nepeta Neptune in a pretty dry spot in the driveway circle, which I’ve supplemented with irrigation, so it doesn’t get super bone-dry in the summer. So far, it’s still looking fresh as of this writing in mid-July – we’ll see how it fares through August and September!