SylvesterBlue™ Catmint

Nepeta x faassenii 'G19213' SylvesterBlue™

Bloomin' Easy®

Hardy in zones 4 to 8, reliably perennial across a wide temperature range
Lavender-blue flower spikes from late spring through frost, longer bloom window than older catmints
Dense branching habit, 12 to 15 inches tall by 24 to 30 inches wide, stays tidy without flopping open
Drought tolerant once established, deer and rabbit resistant, a magnet for pollinators and hummingbirds

$46⁹⁹

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Plant Size

#1 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: SylvesterBlue Catmint thrives in full sun, needing at least 6 hours of direct light each day for the sturdiest stems, tightest mound, and best flowering. It tolerates a little light afternoon shade in hot southern climates, but too much shade causes the plant to stretch, flop open, and bloom poorly.

Soil: Plant in average, well-drained soil. Lean ground actually produces better flowering and a tighter habit than rich, amended soil. If you have heavy clay, mix in compost to improve drainage or plant in a raised mound, since soggy roots will kill this plant faster than drought will.

Watering Requirements

Water newly planted SylvesterBlue deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season to establish a strong root system. Once mature, it's reliably drought tolerant and typically only needs a soaking during extended dry spells or extreme heat. Let the top inch of soil dry out between waterings. Overwatering causes root rot faster than any pest or disease ever will.

Pruning Tips

Shear the entire plant back by about half after the first flush of flowers fades in early summer. This mid-season haircut resets the mound, triggers a fresh flush of foliage, and brings on a second wave of blooms that carries into fall. In late fall after frost, or in very early spring, cut all the old stems back to a few inches above the ground to make way for new growth.

Fertilizer Needs

In average garden soil, SylvesterBlue needs no fertilizer at all. If your soil is genuinely poor, a light application of slow-release, balanced fertilizer once in early spring is plenty. Skip high-nitrogen feeds entirely. Too much nitrogen produces floppy, leafy growth and far fewer flowers, the exact opposite of what you planted this catmint for.

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Cold hardy, Drought resistant, Deer-resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Flowering, Fragrant, Attracts pollinators, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Low Maintenance, Heat Tolerant, Reblooming, Container Friendly, Compact/Dwarf, Non-invasive, Full Sun
Hardiness Zone	4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Sunlight	Full sun
Height	1-2 ft
Width	2-3 ft
Watering Needs	Low, Moderate
Preferred Soil	Sandy, Loamy, Chalky, Clay
Growth Rate	Moderate
Growth Habit	Compact, Spreading, Bushy
Plant Life Cycle	Perennial
Blooms In	Spring, Summer, Fall
Flower Color	Blue, Purple, Lavender
Foliage Color	Green
Fragrant	Yes
Suitable Space	Outdoors, Container
Botanical Name	Nepeta x faassenii 'G19213' SylvesterBlue™
Species	x faassenii
Cultivar	G19213
Class	Lamiales
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

Long spires of lavender-blue blooms over crinkly sage-green foliage, all summer into fall. SylvesterBlue™ Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii 'G19213' PP32,974) from the Bloomin' Easy® breeding program delivers the large-flowered, densely branched habit that sets this catmint apart from older cultivars like Walker's Low or Cat's Pajamas. You get bigger blooms, more of them, for longer.

The two-tone lavender-blue flower spikes hold their color from late spring into frost, especially with one mid-season shearing. Butterflies, native bees, and hummingbirds work the blooms all season, while the aromatic foliage is deer and rabbit resistant. Crush a leaf as you walk past and the minty fragrance fills the air.

SylvesterBlue™ is a tidy, mounded grower: 12 to 15 inches tall and 24 to 30 inches wide at maturity, hardy through USDA zones 4 to 8. It's drought tolerant once established, unbothered by heat or poor soil, and the dense branching keeps it from flopping open in the middle the way older catmints sometimes do.

How to Use SylvesterBlue™ Catmint in the Landscape

The mounded habit makes this a natural border and edging perennial. Plant it along a path, where brushing past releases the fragrance, or use it to soften the front of a sunny rock garden. In mass plantings, space plants 20 to 24 inches apart for a continuous river of blue.

It's also one of the best catmints for container gardens, with enough structure to carry a pot on its own or spill gracefully over the edge of a mixed planter. Pair it with shrub roses, coneflowers, salvia, yarrow, or ornamental grasses, plants with similar full-sun, lean-soil preferences.

Lavender-blue flower spikes from late spring through frost
Crinkly, scalloped sage-green aromatic foliage
Compact mounded habit, 12 to 15 inches tall by 24 to 30 inches wide
Drought tolerant, heat tolerant, and deer resistant
Magnet for pollinators, hummingbirds, and native bees
Excellent in borders, containers, rock gardens, and mass plantings

Why SylvesterBlue™ Stands Out From Other Catmints

Older catmint cultivars can split open in the center by midsummer, especially in rich soil. Bloomin' Easy® selected SylvesterBlue™ for denser branching and larger flower spikes, so the mound stays full and the bloom show keeps going. If you've been growing other catmints and wishing for more structure and more color, this is the upgrade.

#ProPlantTips for Care

Give SylvesterBlue™ full sun and well-drained soil, and it will handle the rest. Water regularly through the first growing season to get roots established, then back off. Once settled in, this is a low-water perennial that prefers to dry out between drinks. Rich, heavily amended soil actually works against it. Lean, average ground produces the best flowering and the tightest habit.

Shear the whole plant back by about half after the first flush fades in early summer. It looks rough for a week, then comes back fuller with a second round of blooms that carries into fall. Cut stems back to a few inches above the ground in late fall after frost, or wait until early spring if you like leaving some winter interest.

Full sun (6+ hours direct light daily)
Well-drained soil, tolerates rocky, sandy, or lean ground
Low to moderate water once established
Shear by half mid-season for rebloom; cut back after frost
Skip the fertilizer in most soils; too much nitrogen causes flopping

Order SylvesterBlue™ Catmint Today

Bigger blooms, denser habit, longer bloom window. SylvesterBlue™ Catmint is the catmint to plant when you want a sturdier, showier version of a perennial classic. Order container-grown plants from Nature Hills Nursery, America's largest online plant nursery, and plant with confidence. Every plant is backed by our Growing & Glowing Guarantee.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What planting zones is SylvesterBlue™ Catmint hardy in?

SylvesterBlue™ Catmint is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8. This reliable herbaceous perennial performs well across a wide temperature range, from cold northern climates to warmer southern regions. Plant in spring for best establishment in your zone.

Does SylvesterBlue™ Catmint require full sun or can it handle partial shade?

SylvesterBlue™ Catmint needs full sun, at least 6 hours of direct light daily, for the tightest mound and the most flowers. It will tolerate a little afternoon shade in hot southern zones, but stretching and reduced blooming are the trade-offs for less sun. Available at naturehills.com.

What kind of soil does SylvesterBlue™ Catmint need for best results?

SylvesterBlue™ Catmint thrives in well-draining soil and tolerates poor, rocky conditions. This xeric perennial actually performs better in average to lean soils rather than rich, fertile ground. Ensure good drainage to prevent root rot, especially in zones 4-8 where it's hardy.

How often should I water SylvesterBlue™ Catmint, especially when establishing it?

Water newly planted SylvesterBlue™ Catmint deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season to establish strong roots. Let the top inch of soil dry between waterings. Once mature, it's reliably drought tolerant in zones 4 to 8 and typically only needs extra water during extended dry spells.

How do I prune SylvesterBlue™ Catmint to encourage more blooms?

Deadhead SylvesterBlue™ Catmint as blooms fade to encourage continuous flowering until frost. This reliable perennial benefits from cutting back spent flower spikes to promote fresh growth and reblooming throughout the season in zones 4-8. Shop at Nature Hills for this low-maintenance beauty.

Is SylvesterBlue™ Catmint deer resistant?

Yes, SylvesterBlue™ Catmint is deer resistant. This hardy perennial works excellent as a natural deterrent when planted en masse or in groupings throughout zones 4-8. Use it as edging or focal points in mixed borders where deer browsing is a concern.

Will SylvesterBlue™ Catmint attract cats the way true catnip does?

Cats are mildly drawn to SylvesterBlue™ Catmint, but nowhere near as intensely as they are to true catnip (Nepeta cataria). The compact, woody habit also holds up better to the occasional cat visitor than floppier catmints do. Plant it in borders and containers without worrying about neighborhood cats tearing it apart.

Can SylvesterBlue™ Catmint be grown successfully in containers or pots?

Yes, SylvesterBlue™ Catmint thrives in containers and adapts well to pots, window boxes, and balcony planters. This compact perennial grows 12-15 inches tall and spreads 24-30 inches wide in zones 4-8. Choose a container at least 18 inches wide to accommodate its spreading habit and place in full sun.