Cats Pajamas

Cat Mint

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Kitten Around'

Summary: The leaf blade of 'Cats Pajamas' is wider than the leaf blade of 'Kitten Around'. The plants of 'Cats Pajamas' begin flowering earlier than the plants of 'Kitten Around'. The inflorescence and the internodes between the floret whorls are longer for 'Cats Pajamas' than that of 'Kitten Around'. The calyx of 'Cats Pajamas' is medium brown purple whereas that of 'Kitten Around' is a medium blue pink to dark blue pink colour.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit, medium density of branching

STEM: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, sparse density of pubescence

LEAF: simple type
LEAF BLADE: medium length to width ratio, position of broadest part strongly towards base, acute apex, truncate base, variegation absent, shallow incisions of margin, absent or weak undulation of margin
LEAF (UPPER SIDE): dark brown green (RHS137B), absent or very sparse pubescence, medium degree of rugosity
PETIOLE: present

FLOWERING PERIOD: early to mid-season
INFLORESCENCE: medium to many florets per node, few lateral branches, erect attitude of tip
CALYX (OUTER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, medium brown purple (RHS 186B)
COROLLA TUBE (OUTER SIDE): light blue violet (RHS 85B/C)
UPPER LIP OF COROLLA (OUTER SIDE): strongly downward attitude relative to corolla tube, medium blue violet (RHS 85A), absent or very sparse pubescence
LOWER LIP (INNER SIDE): medium blue violet (RHS N87D) with medium blue violet (90C) at margin, absent or very weak undulation of margin

Origin & Breeding History: 'Cats Pajamas' originated from a controlled cross conducted on June 6, 2013 between a proprietary hybrid of Nepata 'Pursian Blue' and an unnamed proprietary selection of Nepata phylloclamys at Walters Gardens, Inc. in Zeeland, Michigan, USA. Evaluation and selection of seedlings based on growth habit, flower colour, blooming time and length of flowering period led to the final selection of 'Cats Pajamas' in the summer of 2015.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Cats Pajamas ' was conducted outdoors and plants were moved into a polyhouse during the summer of 2024 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The trial consisted of 12 plants of the candidate variety and, due to difficulties overwintering, 6 or the 12 plants of the reference variety remained. There was 1 plant per 16 cm diameter pot placed approximately 45 cm apart. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of each variety. Colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Cats Pajamas' with reference variety 'Kitten Around'

Leaf blade width (cm)

Inflorescence length (cm)

Internode length between the floret whorls (cm)

Colour of calyx (RHS)

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Cat Mint: 'Cats Pajamas' (left) with reference variety 'Kitten Around' (right)

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Cat Mint: 'Cats Pajamas' (left) with reference variety 'Kitten Around' (right)

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Cat Mint: 'Cats Pajamas' (left) with reference variety 'Kitten Around' (right)