Sedum Autumn Joy in Back, Volunteer Spiderwort to the Right, Mystery Perennial up Front
In my last post, It's the End of Bloomin' May Already, I mentioned a several-year-old mystery potted perennial in my garden that is not only pretty, but requires no maintenance and will also put up with anything—so who cares if I don't know what it is.
Katherine at Windchimes (who makes elegant fashion jewelry from glass and metal beads—look at these cute little dragonflies!) was curious about it and asked if I would post a picture, which is exactly what I'd been thinking of doing. I realized it might actually be nice to know what this plant is, because then you'd be able to seek out one or two for your own garden. (I wouldn't mind adding a few more, too.) I also figured at least one of you out there would be able to identify it for us.
I have no idea where or when I got this plant, but it was at least a few years ago. It's growing in a round ceramic pot that's about 12 inches across and maybe 10 inches high, and right now is sitting against the front of the greenhouse where it receives several hours of sun a day. I think during previous years I've had it out in full sun. During the winter it lives in the unheated (except for a couple of nights a year) greenhouse with my other potted perennials. When temps dip down into the single digits, I cover it with floating row cover and/or an old bedsheet.
The plant itself is about 14 inches tall right now and is covered with these delicate pale purple blooms which last for quite a while, though I've never paid attention to exactly how long. The leaves always make me think of catnip, which is in the mint family, and—I just went out and checked—they do smell faintly minty.
I have a feeling the plant might get a whole lot bigger if I put it in the ground, as this has been my experience with other potted perennials, despite the fact that I periodically put a layer of compost on top of the soil and fertilize with sheep manure (simple instructions on how to make your own manure tea coming soon!). The only exceptions to this have been my big pots of lemon balm and Sedum Autumn Joy (seen behind the mystery plant), but that's because I've kept them in the same place for so long they simply sent roots out the drain holes of their pots into the soil below, and so technically are growing in the ground.
So do you know what my mystery plant is? Do tell! And if you'd like to solve other garden mysteries—or have one of your own you need help with—check out Fine Gardening's Mystery Plant gallery, a fun and informative place where you can post a photo and have your questions answered.
© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the mysterious foodie farm blog where solving plant puzzles is a lot more interesting than weeding, though it doesn't help feed the compost pile like weeding does—unless of course everything you identify turns out to be a noxious weed, which is what happened the other day when I did a little mystery plant identification in a beginning gardening friend's flower bed.
Katherine at Windchimes (who makes elegant fashion jewelry from glass and metal beads—look at these cute little dragonflies!) was curious about it and asked if I would post a picture, which is exactly what I'd been thinking of doing. I realized it might actually be nice to know what this plant is, because then you'd be able to seek out one or two for your own garden. (I wouldn't mind adding a few more, too.) I also figured at least one of you out there would be able to identify it for us.
I have no idea where or when I got this plant, but it was at least a few years ago. It's growing in a round ceramic pot that's about 12 inches across and maybe 10 inches high, and right now is sitting against the front of the greenhouse where it receives several hours of sun a day. I think during previous years I've had it out in full sun. During the winter it lives in the unheated (except for a couple of nights a year) greenhouse with my other potted perennials. When temps dip down into the single digits, I cover it with floating row cover and/or an old bedsheet.
The plant itself is about 14 inches tall right now and is covered with these delicate pale purple blooms which last for quite a while, though I've never paid attention to exactly how long. The leaves always make me think of catnip, which is in the mint family, and—I just went out and checked—they do smell faintly minty.
I have a feeling the plant might get a whole lot bigger if I put it in the ground, as this has been my experience with other potted perennials, despite the fact that I periodically put a layer of compost on top of the soil and fertilize with sheep manure (simple instructions on how to make your own manure tea coming soon!). The only exceptions to this have been my big pots of lemon balm and Sedum Autumn Joy (seen behind the mystery plant), but that's because I've kept them in the same place for so long they simply sent roots out the drain holes of their pots into the soil below, and so technically are growing in the ground.
So do you know what my mystery plant is? Do tell! And if you'd like to solve other garden mysteries—or have one of your own you need help with—check out Fine Gardening's Mystery Plant gallery, a fun and informative place where you can post a photo and have your questions answered.
© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the mysterious foodie farm blog where solving plant puzzles is a lot more interesting than weeding, though it doesn't help feed the compost pile like weeding does—unless of course everything you identify turns out to be a noxious weed, which is what happened the other day when I did a little mystery plant identification in a beginning gardening friend's flower bed.
It is hard to tell without actually smelling the plant, but it looks like Catmint to me. I had some magically show up in my garden a few years ago.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/perennial-plants/perennial-catmint.html
It looks like a catmint but I don't know what species. Here is link to a possibility. http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=I550
ReplyDeleteCatmint?
ReplyDeleteHi Susan - that sure looks like catmint! I had to dig my two plants out of the garden - they become huge, and all of the neighbourhood cats were visiting my garden. It also makes a nice cut flower in a vase with other flowers for the greenery and the purple flower. If you do put it in the ground - it will get really big! When does you cook book come out? Any date yet?
ReplyDeletehappy gardening, Ina, from the westcoast.
First thing I thought of when I saw the photo was Catmint. Definitely looks mint-related. Catmint is incredibly pungent, almost too intense, at least to my nose ;). Kitty happily devours it, with a few sneezes here and there.
ReplyDeleteI was going to say maybe salvia or sage, but after reading the other comments I realized that the leaves do look like catmint. I just planted some in my garden the other day. Hope mind looks that good in a few years.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
~*~
Definitely a mint. It's a good thing you like it, because you will never, ever, ever be rid of it;)
ReplyDeleteSure looks like nepeta (catmint) to me, too. In my Kansas garden, it gets about 24 inches round and survives winters nicely. Doesn't care too much for soggy roots, though...
ReplyDeleteI have a catmint that looks very much like your mystery plant. It is a Nepeta species, but not Nepeta cataria, which is catnip. It doesn't seem to attract all the cats for miles around, but it is faintly minty.
ReplyDeleteThey all beat me to it, so I'll just agree that yup, that's catmint.
ReplyDeleteI could be completely wrong here but I thought maybe its Hyssop??
ReplyDeleteGael from New Zealand
Catmint!
ReplyDeleteCatmint for sure. It is not as attractive to cats as regular catnip, but my cats like to roll on the stems I cut back in midsummer. And they like to nap among the plants. The comments on it spreading are spot on; I have a huge bed of it as my entrance garden and it seeds itself in the gravel driveway. Most of the plants are probably Six Hills Giant, but I am not sure.
ReplyDeleteGood morning,
ReplyDeleteIt is definately catmint
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/193530/
I'm guessing Catmint... But, from my experience, whether in a pot or not, if this is Catmint, you'd have several babies starting just from the seeding out in the fall... I have it EVERYWHERE, including in beds up to 10ft. from the original plant. If it hasn't seeded out, it may be something else.
ReplyDeleteYep, that's catmint, or nepeta. I have some growing in my front garden. It spreads!
ReplyDeleteThat is for sure Catmint. I have several in my garden, and they come back bigger and bigger. One cat adores it, rolling around in the middle of eat, chomping the ends and rubbing her little face wherever she can. The other cat could care less. But they are the same way about catnip too.
ReplyDeleteIt is Nepeta faassenii 'Blue Wonder' Catmint.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.denverplants.com/perennials/hatml/nepet_won.htm
I have it in my garden and it spreads so fast.
VueJardin from
http://vuejardin.blogspot.com
Love your blog and the great recipes. I love catmint. I leave it be and am happy with its natural look. It really can be invasive but I've 10 acres to fill up so I don't mind.
ReplyDeletelittlepurpleroom from
http://turnleftatthepigs.blogspot.com
Like everyone else I'm going with catmint. I have many of these and I LOVE them. There are different kinds of catmint though, I have Walker's Low that isn't as invasive as some, but there's also regular, tall, perhaps you can now research to see what kind it is.
ReplyDeleteIt looks very much like the catmint growing in my garden. My cats love it, and it's hardier than catnip.
ReplyDeleteI think it's catmint, too. Do your cats like to play in it? BTW, I love your blogs. Thanks for making the world a nicer place.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a nepeta, but not necessarily true catnip. Looks more like the ones I have out front. You're right, if you plant it, it will get HUGE, and the bees will love you for it.
ReplyDeleteVery drought-tolerant, happy, pretty plant. Lucky you.
just found your blog,it looks like catnip or sage
ReplyDeleteForgive the redundancy: catmint. Should bloom for you all summer here in Missouri. This is not however the mint that drives the cats wild. My cat ignores this pretty catmint entirely but lounges smack in the middle of a "cat nip" patch. The cat nip is mostly just a plant but acquires some unimpressive small white flowers at some juncture.
ReplyDeleteHi Everybody!I'm overwhelmed by your response to my little mystery perennial problem. I'm working on a sort of roundup post explaining everything I've learned about catmint from your comments, but in the meantime, I just wanted to say thank you!
ReplyDeleteThat is definitely catmint! My parents cat loved it. He would roll around in it for what seemed like hours.
ReplyDeleteIt does look like a mint for sure. Could be catmint or another type. I have another mint in my backyard (in addition to unwanted catmint) that looks like that too. I'm not sure what that is either. A friend gave me some. Is the stem square? Square stems are mint-family related. You probably already knew that though.
ReplyDeleteYep, Catmint it is. We have it growing in serveral places around our gardens. It makes a great addition to the rock garden and adds a bit of color to the herb garden - though it does tend to take over with bad manners as most mints do.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy it!
HAHA I was going to say catmint but looks like a ton of others beat me to it.
ReplyDeleteI love this time of year as a few of my perrenials that had stopped blooming start up again and my roses have buds too.
I have some pics on my blog of things in bloom and our new jack russell puppy and a giveaway (my first) so I'd love to have you and anyone else stop by.
I love your blog it's been in my bookmarks for quite awhile now.
thank heavens, I have this in my garden too and it was driving me mad trying to identify it!!
ReplyDeleteThis is Henbit!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.smmtc.org/plantofthemonth/plant_of_the_month_201108_Henbit.php
Thanks Emily! I was trying to identify this plant from my yard that matches the second photo perfectly. Catmint is close but it differs too much in my opinion. Every picture of Henbit I can find matches what I see in the yard and the pictures above.
ReplyDelete