Lavender has long been a staple of cottage gardens, sensory borders, and aromatic patio planting. While it's delightful scent and beautiful purple blooms are iconic, it's lesser acknowledged just how problematic lavender can actually be. Enter the superior alternative designers are loving right now: nepeta, or catmint.
Growing lavender in the yard always looks best in those first few years. After that, it's common for this shrub to become woody, straggly, and if not properly maintained, quite unsightly. Nepeta (like this 'Cat’s Pajamas' catmint from Fast Growing Trees), on the other hand, is much more reliable and much less demanding. A quick chop at the end of the season is guaranteed to bring it back bigger and better next year, not to mention its summer display lasts much longer than lavender.
