Walker's Low Catmint Plants

'Walker's Low' Catmint

Long flowering, easy to grow, ideal beside right paths where you will tread on stray stems and brush past the leaves, releasing their aroma.

Browse all of our perennial plants.

Features

• Colour: Mauve flower spikes
• Flowering: June-September
• Foliage: silvery green and aromatic
• Height x Spread: 60cm x 60cm
• Position: full sun
• Soil: moist but well-drained
• RHS Plants for Pollinators
• RHS Award of Garden Merit

In the garden

A cottage-garden classic that's most at home in a sunny border or gravel garden. To thrive it needs a warm spot in moist, well-drained soil, although it will cope with light, dappled shade. Dig in some well-rotted garden compost when planting – in all but heavy clay – and keep well watered until established. Once it's settled in, it's pretty drought resistant. It might need a bit of brushwood for support towards mid-spring - put your sticks in before the plant gets too large and unwieldy.

Prune back after the first flowering in June to keep the shape neat, and to encourage more flowers.

A tried-and-tested planting of roses (pale or dark pink work wonderfully) with nepeta is a timeless classic. Or combine with other sun-loving perennials such as Eryngiums, Campanulas, Stachys and Lavender for a glorious drought-tolerant south-facing border in cool blues and silvers.

Did you know?

It's thought that the name Nepeta comes from the Latin for various aromatic plants that included catmint. It may have been named after the city of Nepeta (now known as Nepi), north of Rome, recognized before the rise of Rome as the centre of Etruscan civilisation.

Dig in some garden compost or leaf mould when planting, in sun or light shade, in a roomy borders. Space 50-60cm apart and water in well. Keep watered until established.

May need staking in spring.Prune after flowering to encourage a second flush of blooms.