Catmint (Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low')

Overview

Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’, commonly known as Catmint, is a cornerstone perennial prized for its exceptional longevity of color and minimal care requirements. This cultivar delivers a continuous display of lavender-blue flowers spanning from spring well into autumn, providing reliable structure in the garden. It forms a graceful, spreading clump, making it an excellent choice for softening hard edges or filling larger perennial beds.

This aromatic herb is highly valued by gardeners for its strong resilience, particularly succeeding where other plants struggle due to dryness or poor soil conditions. The textured, gray-green foliage releases a pleasant scent when brushed, adding sensory interest alongside its extensive floral performance. The reliability and sheer volume of blooms establish the Catmint as a garden essential.

Although its name implies a low profile, ‘Walker’s Low’ often reaches 2 to 3 feet in height, delivering substantial visual mass. Its long bloom season makes Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’ much more impactful than shorter-lived bloomers, ensuring consistent aesthetic appeal across multiple seasons.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Lamiaceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-8
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 2-2.5 ft
  • Spread: 2.5-3 ft
• Bloom Time: April to September
• Bloom Description: Lavender blue
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Water Needs: Dry to medium
• Maintenance Level: Low

How to Grow

For optimal performance, plant propagation of ‘Walker’s Low’ must be achieved through division, as seeds are sterile, ensuring genetic consistency. This perennial thrives in average conditions, provided the soil is well-drained, fitting best in dry to medium moisture environments. Plant during the spring or fall in locations receiving full sun, though protection from intense afternoon heat is beneficial in very hot locales where light afternoon shade is appreciated.

Once established, this Catmint variety demonstrates remarkable drought tolerance, requiring minimal supplemental irrigation beyond sporadic watering during prolonged dry spells. Avoid over-fertilizing, as rich soil can encourage floppier growth rather than dense, sturdy clumps. The primary aftercare involves management of the bloom cycles.

To maximize the spectacular flower display of Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’, shear the original flower spikes back immediately after the initial bloom flush concludes. This pruning encourages heavy reblooming through the summer and into early fall. Be aware: in perfect growing conditions, the plant may self-seed readily, though divisions ensure the superior characteristics of the chosen cultivar.

Landscape Uses

Catmint is exceptionally versatile and excels as a foreground planting in mixed borders, where its texture and color anchor taller selections. Its spreading habit also makes it an excellent choice for creating low, maintenance-free edgings along pathways or driveways, offering continuous color without demanding frequent trimming. Consider planting massed drifts of Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’ for a naturalized effect in open areas.

Because of its robust nature and deer resistance, this Catmint is a natural fit for rock gardens or sloped areas where soil retention and low-water needs are important considerations. It pairs beautifully with plants that appreciate similar dry, sunny conditions, such as ornamental grasses, coneflowers, and salvias, creating drifts of complementary blues, purples, and yellows. The gray-green foliage of the Catmint provides an excellent textural contrast to fine-leaved or dark green neighbors.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy

Noteworthy Characteristics

Nepeta racemosa, commonly called catmint, is Native to the Caucusus and northern Iran. It is a low-growing perennial that typically forms a spreading clump of decumbent, ascending and upright stems to 12” tall and 18” wide. Features gray-green, hairy, ovate leaves (to 1” long) with crenate margins, prominent veining and heart-shaped bases. Leaves are highly aromatic when crushed or bruised. Pale lilac to deep violet two-lipped flowers (1/ 2” long) clustered in loose raceme-like verticillasters (false whorls) bloom in spring. While Nepeta cataria is true catnip, the leaves of this species are also attractive to cats. ‘Walker’s Low’ will grow 24-30 inches tall and features loose whorls of small, abundant, two-lipped, trumpet-shaped, lavender-blue flowers.

Tolerances

• Rabbit
• Deer
• Drought
• Dry Soil
• Shallow-Rocky Soil
• Air Pollution

Potential Problems

This Catmint variety generally exhibits excellent resistance, showing no serious insect or disease problems under normal garden conditions. Good air circulation, achieved by proper spacing and shearing spent flowers, helps prevent minor fungal issues that can occasionally occur in overly humid environments. Avoid planting in heavy clay soils that retain too much moisture, as this is the primary stress factor this drought-tolerant perennial faces.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Catmint suitable for?

Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’ is hardy across USDA Zones 4 through 8, allowing it to withstand significant winter cold.

How large does Catmint grow?

This perennial typically reaches a height of 2 to 2.5 feet and spreads between 2.5 and 3 feet wide at maturity.

What sun exposure does Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’ need?

It thrives best in full sun but will tolerate part shade, especially appreciating some afternoon relief from intense sun in the hottest summer climates.

When does Catmint bloom?

The prolific flowering period for this cultivar generally runs from April all the way through September, especially with good maintenance pruning.

Conclusion

The long bloom season, exceptional drought tolerance, and low maintenance profile make Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’ a powerhouse perennial for any sunny border. Integrating this aromatic Catmint into your landscape guarantees reliable, soft texture and continuous lavender-blue color throughout the growing season. Before purchasing, confirm your local USDA hardiness zone suitability and plan for good drainage to ensure the best performance from this reliable garden favorite.

Companion Planting

Due to its preference for dry to medium soil and full sun exposure, Catmint pairs wonderfully with other sun-loving, drought-tolerant perennials. Excellent companions include Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), which shares a similar gray-blue color palette but provides a taller, airier profile. For a warmer contrast, plant alongside yellow Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) or various ornamental grasses that create movement behind the mounded form of the Catmint.

Propagation Tips

Since seed viability is not an option for Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’, garden success relies entirely on vegetative propagation, primarily division. The best time to divide overgrown clumps is early in the spring before new growth begins, or in early fall. Dig up the entire clump, use a sharp spade to cut it into sections, ensuring each division has a healthy section of roots and several growing points, and replant immediately into prepared soil. This process rejuvenates older plants and allows you to easily multiply your supply of this beneficial herb.