I present to you today my “top seven” reasons why I friggin love Nepeta (Catmint) ‘Walker’s Low’. Why seven? Because I don’t want Letterman’s people to accuse me of stealing any of their ideas. Plagiarism is a hot topic right now in the gardening world. For a super interesting read on this from an awesome writer, click here.
Anyhoo, when I photographed the small new growth on one of my Catmint plants yesterday, I was immediately reminded of just how much I love this perennial. And here are seven reasons why:
2)The blooms attract the bees in droves:
3)They are fantastic planted in large masses as edging plants:
4)They combine incredibly well with other perennials and shrubs:
5)The foliage emerges early and fills in quickly each Spring:
6)They take well to an early summer pruning and will bloom again later in the summer:
7)They hold up well deep into the fall so they provide true three season interest:
You feelin me dawg?
What a pretty perennial. Reminds me of Lavendar or Salvia. I’ll have to remember to get this one. Does it have a nice scent?
I too adore catmint. It can quickly make a naked spot look wonderful.
Very pretty.
I just started some of these seeds a week or so ago. Not much is happening, but I’m hopeful. Love your pics!
Couldn’t agree more…one of my favorites and a plant I just can’t have enough of…if only I could keep the neighborhood cats from having midnight orgies on them 🙁
I’m feeling it! I have one but I get lazy and it flops on me…I should make a mental note to cut back this year. When is the best time you think?
Hi ONG,
I have not been as happy with Walker’s Low has you have been, lots of floppiness. But up in Wisconsin it has been wonderful. So I wonder about the climate conditions, soil, etc.
Eileen
8. It’s doesn’t need a lot of water.
I love nepeta too, I agree it is a great plant, its greyish foliage goes so nicely with little blue flowers. I use it as a companion plant for a silvery pink rose, they look so lovely together.
I like it too, it goes well with roses.
Well, I was considering giving this plant a go while reading your post AND then I read Scott’s comment…oh dear!
Meems – does have a nice subtle scent, almost mint like.
Bonnie – I love any plant where foliage fills in quickly, makes spring that much more enjoyable.
Texwis – Thanks for viewing!
Sarah – Would love to know how it goes growing from seed, keep in touch.
Scott – so funny! Some how the cats have stayed away for me, come to think of it, so have the deer.
Jennifer – I cut it back mid to late June and the foliage immediately fills back in and there is some rebloom.
Gatsby – I think I’ve avoided flop by the mid June haircut.
Laura – I think I needed an 8 and 9 (deer resistant) although had no good photos to accompany those.
Masha – combining with pink roses sounds sweet!
Phillip – sounds like the perfect perennial to hide the lower portion of roses.
Darla – give it a whirl anyway and take photos of the cats getting insane on it.
I had always seen it in stores but never took the plunge until last year. It is wonderful. And the scent is nice too! You’re so right about it combining nicely with others.
Oh so those are catmints…and they are perennials, great! Too bad we don’t have them here in the tropics.
Rosie
Interesting… I like the idea of them, however I have three, that are growing in mostly sun, and they are quite floppy for me. They are planted around rose bushes so you think it be a good combo, but so far not so good. I’m going to give them another year (to leap!) and see if they need moving (or giving away).
Ok, ok! You’ve got me wanting to rush out to buy some catmint now, too! But I’ll need to check whether it will grow in my garden, which has quite a lot of shade. Your garden looks huge and very open and in full sun???
I AM feeling you! I have some seeds sown of this, if they don’t germinate I’ll just have to buy some plants.
Has anyone successfully grown catmint in clay soil? I had a whole row of them blooming successfully, but they lasted only a couple of years. My soil is amended clay, but I can’t seem to amend it enough … 🙁