Catmint ‘Walker’s Low’

Catmint 'Walker's Low' (Nepeta x faassenii 'Walker's Low') is the border plant that does the most for the least attention. It forms a soft grey green mound about 70cm tall and 90cm across, then covers itself in purple blue flower spikes from spring through summer, on poor soil with very little water. Bees and butterflies work it constantly, and it is not toxic to cats or dogs.

Why you'll love it

• It flowers for months, not weeks. Purple blue spikes from spring into summer, and a shear after the first flush usually brings a second round.
• It thrives on neglect. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and happy in poor soil. Rich ground and heavy watering make it flop, so the hard spots in your garden are where it belongs.
• Pollinators find it immediately. Few perennials pull in as many bees and butterflies for as long.
• Safe around pets. Not toxic to cats or dogs. Cats are drawn to the scent and may flatten a plant by rolling in it, which is a nuisance rather than a danger.

Where it works best

Borders and edging. Plant 50cm apart for a continuous border. At that spacing the mounds meet and read as one soft ribbon of colour along a path or the front of a bed.

Mass planting and groundcover. The same 50cm spacing works across a larger area, where a drift covers ground and suppresses weeds through the growing season without irrigation.

Rockeries and pots. Sharp drainage and lean soil suit it perfectly, and a single plant fills a medium pot and spills over the rim.

Growing Catmint in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, with plenty of air movement. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid or semi-arid gardens, and it is properly frost hardy. Humid subtropical and tropical summers are its weak point, since still wet air brings on mildew and rot.

Soil. Free draining and on the lean side. It tolerates poor and rocky ground genuinely well, and heavy clay is the main thing to avoid. Add grit rather than compost if your soil holds water.

Water and feed. Water while it establishes over the first few months, then very sparingly. Skip fertiliser altogether in decent soil, since feeding produces lush growth that splays open in the middle.

Pruning. Shear the plant back by about a third once the first flush fades to trigger a second round. In cooler gardens the top growth dies back over winter, so cut it to near ground level in late winter.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in two sizes: tube stock, and 140mm plants in packs of ten. Tube stock is the economical way to plant a long border, given you need a plant every 50cm, and it catches up quickly. The 140mm packs give a border that reads as finished within a single season. Both sizes are currently on backorder.

Because this is a perennial rather than a woody shrub, plants can look modest on arrival and may be cut back for transit. That is normal. Water them in, keep them barely moist for the first month, and expect a full mound and flowers in the first season. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Perennial plants for a cottage garden
• Plants that attract bees and butterflies
• Browse plants suited to rockeries
• More plants that are safe around pets

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a border?

Fifty centimetres apart in a single line. The mounds grow to about 90cm across, so at that spacing they overlap slightly and close into a continuous edge without gaps.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

Yes, it is not toxic to either. Cats do respond to the scent much as they do to true catnip, so expect visits and the occasional flattened plant where cats roam.

Why is my plant splitting open in the middle?

Almost always too much water, too much feeding, or not enough sun. Shear it back by a third and ease off the watering.