Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Persian Catmint bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Persian Catmint, Mussini Catmint (Nepeta mussinii).

More about persian catmint

About Persian Catmint

Nepeta mussinii · also called Persian Catmint, Mussini Catmint · flowering

Persian Catmint is a compact, low-growing species native to the Caucasus and Iran, producing dense spikes of small violet-blue flowers above soft, silvery-green aromatic foliage. It is an excellent front-of-border or edging plant, highly attractive to bees and pollinators. Drought-tolerant and easy to grow in well-drained sunny positions.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Powdery mildew: White coating on leaves, most common in late summer heat with poor airflow. Cut plant back hard after flowering; new growth is typically clean. Space generously to allow air movement.

The reasons persian catmint isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming persian catmint traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding persian catmint a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get persian catmint to flower

Maximise sun. Give persian catmint the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for persian catmint and get the feeding right with the persian catmint fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Persian Catmint flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full persian catmint care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Persian Catmint blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my persian catmint flower?

Persian Catmint blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make persian catmint bloom?

Give persian catmint the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does persian catmint normally bloom?