Walker’s Low catmint is an herbaceous perennial in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. It originated in west Asia and is a hybrid plant, the result of a cross between Nepeta racemosa and Nepeta nepetella . It was first cultivated by Faassen Nurseries in the Netherlands and named for a garden called Walker’s Low. Walker’s Low catmint thrives in full sun and dry, even rocky, soil. If planted in the south, it may do better with some afternoon shade and may be bothered by humidity. In ideal conditions, it may grow as high as 2 feet with a spread of 18 to 36 inches. This plant can be divided in the spring and will not take over a garden bed, unlike most plants in the mint family. This plant is generally care free, but cutting back spent blossoms will ensure beautiful lavender-blue color from spring through fall. Mass or naturalized plantings are eye-catching. Fragrant silvery leaves, especially when crushed, make this plant appealing. As the 2007 Perennial Plant of the Year, it is also resistant to damage from deer, and cats are less attracted to it than to catnip, despite the name. However, Walker’s Low catmint is a pollinator magnet. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers", a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Nepeta x faassenii .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in. | Width: 2 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Cordate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenate
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The oval, crinkly, silvery-green leaves are 1-2 inches long and wide, hairy, fragrant when crushed with intricate venation. Margins are crenate and base cordate (heart-shaped). Not as attractive to cats as N. cataria, the straight species.
Flower color
Blue; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Lipped; Trumpet
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
1/2 inch trumpet-shaped flowers are small but showy in loose clusters. They have 4 stamens and lavender-blue petals. They are sterile with no seed production and will rebloom if cut back mid-summer.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Sterile seeds produced
Stem color
Gray/Silver; Green
Stem detail
Square green stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
West Asia (Turkey and Iran)
Wildlife value
Pollinators are attracted to the flowers
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Hummingbirds
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
Leaves are used in teas. Cats
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Slope/Bank; Small Space
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden; Garden for the Blind; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden