Nepeta nuda 'Romany Dusk' AGM

Naked Catmint Lamiaceae

A catmint with excellent posture and very little interest in flopping about. Nepeta nuda ‘Romany Dusk’ is Paul Barney’s Edulis collection from the Apuseni Mountains of Romania, selected for its remarkably upright habit, dark stems and restrained, atmospheric colouring. 

The tall, almost burgundy-purple stems carry branching spires of small pale lilac to almost white flowers, creating a hazy summer display above aromatic, wrinkled grey-green foliage. The contrast between the dark framework and pale flowers is particularly effective, giving the plant considerably more architectural presence than the usual sprawling catmint. It is also an excellent bee plant, and cutting it back after flowering can encourage a second flush. 

Unfussy and drought tolerant once established, it wants full sun and well-drained soil and is particularly good in gravel gardens, prairie planting or the dry border. An RHS Award of Garden Merit plant—and one of those Edulis selections that proves subtle doesn’t have to mean dull.

Height: 90–120cm | Spread: 40–60cm
Flowering: June–September | Foliage: Deciduous
Hardiness: H7 (-20 to -15°C)