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Little Titch Catmint (Nepeta Racemosa or Mussinii)

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Picture of Little Titch catmint flowers. Little Titch is a dwarf catmint.

Picture of flowers of Nepeta mussinii 'Little Titch'.

David Beaulieu

Plant Taxonomy of Little Titch Catmint:

Plant taxonomy classifies 'Little Titch' catmint as Nepeta racemosa 'Little Titch' (synonymous with Nepeta mussinii). 'Little Titch' is the cultivar name. A common name used for this plant is "Persian catmint."

Plant Type for Nepeta Racemosa (Mussinii):

Nepeta racemosa is an herbaceous perennial. The plant is also considered an herb, the genus having been used medicinally for centuries in a number of ways (for example, as a sedative).

Characteristics of Nepeta Racemosa (Mussinii):

Little Titch is a dwarf catmint plant, reaching a height of 8-10 inches, with a slightly greater spread. This clumping plant is a better choice for small spaces than bigger plants such as '6 Hills Giant', which can be rather overwhelming. Little Titch produces violet-lavender flowers and fragrant leaves. Foliage grows densely.

Planting Zones for Nepeta Racemosa (Mussinii):

Indigenous to the southwestern Asia, Nepeta racemosa can be grown in planting zones 4-8.

Sun and Soil Requirements for Little Titch Catmint:

Plant in full sun to partial sun. Like most herbs, these dwarf catmints grow best in well-drained soil.

Uses for Dwarf Catmints:

Craving a well-drained soil, Little Titch catmint is a natural for rock gardens. Or use it as an edging plant or small flowering ground cover to define a border or pathway. When layering a flower bed, this dwarf catmint works well in the front row, as it won't obscure plants installed in back of it.

Wildlife Attracted by Nepeta Racemosa (Mussinii):

Nepeta racemosa (mussinii) is a good butterfly plant and also attracts hummingbirds, although my personal experience has yet to confirm this. But because of the smell of its leaves, it is a deer-resistant plant. Nor is it counted among the plants that rabbits eat.

Care for Little Titch Catmint:

Care begins in early spring, when, armed with a pair of scissors, you should go out and remove any dead vegetation left over from last year as part of your spring cleaning in the garden. Little Titch catmint can begin flowering anytime from early spring to late spring (depending on weather, microclimate and region) and can continue to bloom right into fall with proper care. This is a long-blooming perennial, but it doesn't hurt to help it along a bit with deadheading. Since it bears so many flowers, however, it's easiest to bring out the scissors again and give it a haircut. Such a haircut in mid-summer will be succeeded by new blossoms later in the summer.

To propagate it and/or to revitalize it, divide this perennial in spring every few years.

Outstanding Features of Nepeta Racemosa (Mussinii):

Short, with dense foliage, this dwarf catmint plant makes for a well-behaved ground cover, effective at choking out weed plants. Little Titch doesn't get out of hand like '6 Hills Giant', a much bigger type of Nepeta. Whereas 6 Hills Giant overwhelmed the perennials I had growing next to it (in the first year of my trial for these perennials), Little Titch minded its own business all summer.

Nepeta racemosa (mussinii) is a drought-tolerant plant, so it is useful for xeriscaping plans. This is a low-maintenance and long-blooming perennial, making it a great small filler plant if you're striving for continual sequence of bloom in a planting bed.

Catmint vs. Catnip:

What famously drives cats wild is the catnip plant (Nepeta cataria). Other members of the genus, such as Nepeta racemosa (mussinii), may have an effect on certain cats, but, in general, gardeners grow catmint plants for aesthetic reasons and catnip plants for their cats' pleasure. While catnip is a type of catmint, no other catmints, properly speaking, should be referred to as "catnip."

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