Zone 5 · winter lows -20°F to -10°F

Nepeta for Zone 5

26 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.

26 hardy hereof 27 Nepeta totalLast frost ~early May

The Nepeta that thrive in Zone 5

Walker's Low Catmint#1 most saved

Walker's Low Catmint

Nepeta x faassenii 'Walker's Low'

Zones 4–8· 562 saves· from $9
Cat's Pajamas Catmint#2 most saved

Cat's Pajamas Catmint

Nepeta x faassenii 'Cat's Pajamas'

Zones 5–8· 235 saves· from $18
Faassen's catmint#3 most saved

Faassen's catmint

Nepeta Nepeta x faassenii

Zones 4–8· 185 saves
Catmint

Catmint

Nepeta x hybrida

Zones 4–8· 167 saves
Six Hills Giant Catmint

Six Hills Giant Catmint

Nepeta x faassenii 'Six Hills Giant'

Zones 4–8· 146 saves
Purrsian Blue Nepeta

Purrsian Blue Nepeta

Nepeta x faassenii 'Purrsian Blue'

Zones 4–8· 117 saves· from $9
Blue Moon Catmint

Blue Moon Catmint

Nepeta nervosa 'Blue Moon'

Zones 4–8· 107 saves
Chartreuse Catmint

Chartreuse Catmint

Nepeta x faassenii 'Chartreuse on the Loose'

Zones 4–8· 103 saves· from $14
Junior Walker Catmint

Junior Walker Catmint

Nepeta x faassenii 'Junior Walker'

Zones 5–9· 102 saves· from $8
Picture Purrfect Catmint

Picture Purrfect Catmint

Nepeta x hybrida 'Picture Purrfect'

Zones 4–9· 99 saves
Japanese Catmint

Japanese Catmint

Nepeta subsessilis

Zones 4–8· 98 saves
Veined Nepeta

Veined Nepeta

Nepeta nervosa

Zones 5–8· 89 saves
Little Trudy Catmint

Little Trudy Catmint

Nepeta x hybrida 'Little Trudy'

Zones 4–9· 84 saves
Snowflake Catmint

Snowflake Catmint

Nepeta racemosa 'Snowflake'

Zones 4–8· 80 saves
Catmint Nepeta

Catmint Nepeta

Nepeta mussinii

Zones 4–8· 76 saves
Siberian Catmint

Siberian Catmint

Nepeta sibirica

Zones 4–8· 75 saves
Nepeta Neptune

Nepeta Neptune

Nepeta x hybrida 'Neptune'

Zones 4–8· 70 saves
Lesser Cat-mint

Lesser Cat-mint

Nepeta nepetella

Zones 5–10· 60 saves
Catnip

Catnip

Nepeta cataria

Zones 4–9· 59 saves
Nepeta Blue Prelude

Nepeta Blue Prelude

Nepeta subsessilis 'Blue Prelude'

Zones 4–8· 53 saves
Early Bird Nepeta

Early Bird Nepeta

Nepeta 'Early Bird'

Zones 4–9· 43 saves· from $25
Summer Magic Catmint

Summer Magic Catmint

Nepeta grandiflora 'Summer Magic'

Zones 4–8· 40 saves

Cat's Meow Catmint

Nepeta x hybrida 'Cat's Meow'

Zones 4–8· from $14

Showing the 23 most-saved of 26 Zone 5–hardy Nepeta varieties. See the full Nepeta list →

Nepeta in Zone 5

Will Nepeta survive a Zone 5 winter?

26 of the 27 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

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.

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