Zone 5 · winter lows -20°F to -10°F

Nepeta for Zone 5

27 Nepeta varieties rated hardy through Zone 5, ranked by how many gardeners actually grow them. Zone 5 is classic northern gardening with a reliable snow blanket.

27 hardy hereof 28 Nepeta totalLast frost ~early May

The Nepeta that thrive in Zone 5

#1 most saved

Walker's Low Catmint

Nepeta faassenii 'Walker's Low'

Zones 4–8· 358 saves· from $7

#2 most saved

Cat's Pajamas Catmint

Nepeta faassenii 'Cat's Pajamas'

Zones 5–8· 212 saves· from $18

#3 most saved

Six Hills Giant Catmint

Nepeta faassenii 'Six Hills Giant'

Zones 4–8· 129 saves

Walker's Low Catmint

Nepeta racemosa 'Walker'

Zones 4–8· 104 saves

Faassen's Catmint

Nepeta faassenii

Zones 4–8· 104 saves

Purrsian Blue Nepeta

Nepeta x faassenii 'Purrsian Blue'

Zones 4–8· 99 saves· from $7

Faassen's catmint

Nepeta Nepeta x faassenii

Zones 4–8· 95 saves

Chartreuse Catmint

Nepeta x faassenii 'Chartreuse on the Loose'

Zones 4–8· 93 saves· from $27

Blue Moon Catmint

Nepeta nervosa 'Blue Moon'

Zones 4–8· 90 saves

Catmint

Nepeta x hybrida

Zones 4–8· 90 saves

Picture Purrfect Catmint

Nepeta x hybrida 'Picture Purrfect'

Zones 4–9· 87 saves

Japanese Catmint

Nepeta subsessilis

Zones 4–8· 84 saves

Junior Walker Catmint

Nepeta faassenii 'Junior Walker'

Zones 5–9· 83 saves· from $6

Veined Nepeta

Nepeta nervosa

Zones 5–8· 80 saves

Little Trudy Catmint

Nepeta x hybrida 'Little Trudy'

Zones 4–9· 78 saves

Snowflake Catmint

Nepeta racemosa 'Snowflake'

Zones 4–8· 72 saves

Siberian Catmint

Nepeta siberica

Zones 4–8· 67 saves

Catmint Nepeta

Nepeta mussinii

Zones 4–8· 65 saves

Faassen's Catmint

Nepeta x faassenii

Zones 4–8· 63 saves

Nepeta Neptune

Nepeta x hybrida 'Neptune'

Zones 4–8· 62 saves

Catmint

Nepeta racemosa

Zones 4–8· 56 saves

Lesser Cat-mint

Nepeta nepetella

Zones 5–10· 55 saves

Catnip

Nepeta cataria

Zones 4–9· 48 saves

Nepeta Blue Prelude

Nepeta subsessilis 'Blue Prelude'

Zones 4–8· 44 saves

Showing the 24 most-saved of 27 Zone 5–hardy Nepeta varieties. See the full Nepeta list →

Nepeta in Zone 5

Will Nepeta survive a Zone 5 winter?

27 of the 28 Nepeta varieties in the Sow catalog are rated hardy through Zone 5, where winter lows reach -20°F to -10°F. Hardiness is per-variety, not per-genus — the plants listed above are the ones that hold up; others in the genus are not rated for this zone.

When should I plant Nepeta in Zone 5?

In Zone 5 the last spring frost typically lands around early May and the first fall frost around early October. Planting after the last frost — or in early fall, so roots establish before the ground cools — gives the best establishment. Each plant page lists its own planting months.

Which Nepeta is best for Zone 5?

Start at the top of the list above: it is ranked by how many gardeners actually save and grow each variety, which is a strong real-world reliability signal. Then narrow by your sun exposure and the mature size that fits the bed.

Keep exploring

All Nepeta

Every Nepeta variety (28)

Nepeta in other zones

More for Zone 5

See Nepeta in your Zone 5 yard

Snap a photo of your space and Sow places these varieties in it at true mature size — then keeps the care schedule for everything you plant.