Nepeta faassenii ‘Summer Snowflake’ – A Cool, Elegant Addition to Your Garden
Nepeta faassenii ‘Summer Snowflake’ is a charming and graceful variety of catmint that combines the best qualities of Nepeta with a soft, refined aesthetic. With its near white blooms and silvery-green foliage, this variety brings a light and airy feel to gardens, while its pleasant fragrance adds an extra dimension to its appeal. Known for its long blooming period and low-maintenance nature, ‘Summer Snowflake’ is a wonderful addition to borders, cottage gardens, or as a filler in mixed beds. It thrives in full sun and is an excellent choice for attracting pollinators, providing color and fragrance from late spring to fall.
Why Grow Nepeta faassenii ‘Summer Snowflake’?
- Elegant White and Lavender Blooms – ‘Summer Snowflake’ offers clusters of delicate,near-white flowers that contrast beautifully with its silvery-gray foliage, creating a soft, ethereal effect in the garden.
- Long-Lasting Blooms – This variety blooms from late spring through early summer, with a second flush of flowers in late summer or fall, providing months of color and interest.
- Pollinator-Friendly – The flowers are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, making ‘Summer Snowflake’ an excellent addition to wildlife gardens and pollinator habitats.
- Compact & Neat Growth Habit – With its low, compact form, this variety remains tidy throughout the growing season, making it a great choice for smaller spaces, containers, or as a ground cover.
- Low Maintenance & Drought-Tolerant – ‘Summer Snowflake’ is incredibly easy to care for, requiring minimal attention once established. It is also drought-tolerant, making it perfect for xeriscaping or low-maintenance garden designs.
Where to Site Your Nepeta faassenii ‘Summer Snowflake’?
Thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade, though it will bloom more profusely in direct sunlight. It prefers well-drained soil and is well-suited to dry, poor, or rocky soil conditions once established. This compact variety is ideal for the front of borders, in containers, or as a filler plant in mixed beds. It works beautifully in cottage gardens, herb gardens, or pollinator-friendly landscapes, where its delicate flowers can attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Plant it along pathways, in rock gardens, or in areas where you can enjoy its fragrance and soft beauty up close.
How to Grow and Care for Your Nepeta faassenii ‘Summer Snowflake’
- Soil – Prefers well-drained soil but is adaptable to a variety of soil types, including poor or dry soils. Adding organic matter or compost will help improve soil structure.
- Light – Grows best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade. In shadier spots, flowering may be less abundant, but the plant will still thrive.
- Watering – Once established, ‘Summer Snowflake’ is drought-tolerant and requires minimal watering. Water regularly during the first growing season to help it establish a strong root system, but be careful not to overwater as this can lead to root rot.
Maintenance:
- Deadheading & Cleanup – Deadheading spent flowers regularly will encourage more blooms and keep the plant looking neat. After the first flush of flowers, trim back the plant to promote fresh growth and a second wave of blooms later in the season.
- Mulch & Feed – Apply a layer of mulch to help retain moisture, especially during dry spells, and to suppress weeds. ‘Summer Snowflake’ is not heavy-feeding, but a slow-release fertilizer in early spring can encourage better growth and more blooms.
- Pruning – In late spring or early summer, trim back any leggy growth to maintain a compact, neat form. After flowering, cut back the plant by a third to keep it tidy and encourage fresh growth.
- Division – Every 2-3 years, divide the plant to maintain vigor and prevent overcrowding. This is best done in early spring or fall, before the plant begins actively growing.
Perfect Plant Combinations
Nepeta faassenii ‘Summer Snowflake’ pairs beautifully with a wide variety of sun-loving perennials, especially those with contrasting or complementary colors. Its delicate white and lavender flowers make it an excellent choice for softening the edges of borders or for creating a calming, cohesive look in the garden. Combine it with other pastel-colored plants like Echinacea ‘Powwow White’, Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’, or Geranium Rozanne, which will enhance the gentle, airy feel of ‘Summer Snowflake’. For a more dramatic effect, pair it with plants that have dark foliage, such as Heuchera or Astilbe, to create a stunning contrast between light and dark. It also looks beautiful alongside ornamental grasses like Pennisetum or Miscanthus, where the soft blooms provide a textured contrast to the graceful movement of the grasses. For a wildlife-friendly garden, pair it with other nectar-rich plants like Lavender, Shasta Daisy, or Coreopsis, which will attract a variety of pollinators. In containers, ‘Summer Snowflake’ works well alongside other compact plants like Petunias, Alyssum, or Calibrachoa, creating a fragrant and beautiful display. Its low-growing habit also makes it ideal as a ground cover or as a filler between taller plants like Rudbeckia, Phlox, or Veronica, offering a soft, cascading effect at the base of your garden.
Does the height include the pot?
No, we measure from the top of the pot to the tip of the plant except for some of the instant planted screens, in this case it will be stated in the description
How long does delivery take?
Most orders are delivered in just a few days, Smaller items are often sent with Parcelforce on a next day service, Larger items should allow up to 10 days due to the size of the items they often have to be sent on our own transport.
Where will you leave my plants?
We will leave your order at the front of your property, Parcelforce may
leave your items in a safe place if you let us know, Pallet couriers
will require a flat hard surface to deliver to, no gravel or soil, a
driveway or parking spot would be best. Most importantly Deliveries by
pallet courier will require access for a large truck (bin lorry sized)
to get near the delivery point. Deliveries sent on our own transport may come in a small van or larger truck.
