Nepeta faassenii 'Walker's Low.'
This plant can reach a height of 2 to 3 feet and has broad, soft, wavy, gray-green leaves that are 1-2 inches long with strongly toothed margins. It produces sturdy, upright spikes of deep lavender-blue flowers that are more vibrant than other catmints. The flowers bloom from May to July, and if the plant is pruned back after the initial flowers have faded, there is often a second blooming period that lasts until the first frost.
The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and birds, and the plant is not bothered by deer, rabbits, or cats. It should be planted in well-drained soil in full sun to light shade and irrigated infrequently. This cultivar was introduced into cultivation in 1988 by Four Seasons Nursery of Norwich, England. It was selected as the 2007 Perennial Plant of the Year by the US Perennial Plant Association (PPA). 'Walker's Low' is misleading as it is not a low-growing catmint; rather, it refers to the garden where the plant was initially found, possibly in Ireland.
This plant is often categorized as a cultivar of Nepeta racemosa, but it is believed to be a hybrid between Nepeta racemosa and N. patella. Therefore, it should be more correctly listed as a hybrid without a specific epithet or as a Nepeta x faassenii cultivar.
Height: 2'
Spread: 2'
Bloom: May-November
Light: Full sun, Part Sun
Water: Low
Zone: 6, 7, 8, 9
Origin: Northern Iran
