Nepeta x faassenii 'Walkers Low'
flowerWalker's Low (Nepeta x faassenii) is not low at all - it makes a billowing 2 to 3 ft mound of small, aromatic gray-green leaves topped for weeks by a haze of lavender-blue flowers. Named Perennial Plant of the Year in 2007, it is a sterile hybrid, so it blooms relentlessly from late spring onward without setting seed, and a midseason shearing brings a whole second flush. The flowers hum with bumblebees and other bees and draw butterflies and hummingbirds, while the minty foliage makes it reliably deer- and rabbit-resistant and very drought-tolerant.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 5 days
Bloom
~75 days
Difficulty
easy
Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
Spacing
18-24 in. apart
Planting Depth
Crown at soil line
Soil pH
6.0-8.0
Soil Type
Average, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4 – 8
When to Fertilize
Light feed in spring
Fertilizer
Balanced or compost; low needs
Plant catmint in full sun (it tolerates light shade) in any well-drained soil - it thrives in lean, sandy, or rocky ground and only struggles in wet clay. Space plants 18 to 24 in. apart, since the mound spreads wide. Water to establish, then it is highly drought-tolerant. The one key task is shearing: cut the whole plant back by a third to a half once the first flush of bloom fades, and it rebounds with fresh foliage and a long second bloom. As a sterile hybrid it does not self-sow and is propagated by division or cuttings, not seed.
🌼 Have a different variety?Cultivars of the same species usually share the same basic care — they differ mainly in flower color, height, and bloom form, not in how you grow them. So this guide still applies even if your exact variety isn't the one shown.
Direct sow
Apr 15
Projected first bloom
Jun 29
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Can rasp at tender new spring growth in damp conditions - use grit or traps until the plant is established; mature plants are untroubled
Not a problem - the aromatic minty foliage is strongly avoided, making catmint a go-to for browsed gardens
Few other pests
Catmint is one of the most trouble-free perennials; good drainage prevents the only real risk, root rot in wet soil
Walker's Low is a lovely airy filler in the vase - cut stems when the spikes are well in bloom, in the cool morning, and strip the lower leaves. In the garden the essential job is the midseason shear: cutting the plant back by a third to a half right after the first flush fades resets the foliage and brings a strong rebloom that keeps bees fed into late summer. It also dries well for everlasting arrangements.
Catmint is one of the longest-feeding bee plants in the perennial border: its lavender-blue flowers are mobbed by bumblebees, honeybees, and native solitary bees from late spring, and shearing for rebloom keeps that nectar flowing into late summer. Butterflies and hummingbirds visit too. Because it is sterile it pours its energy into nectar-rich bloom rather than seed.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.