Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Walker's Low Catmint: Lavender's Most Reliable Garden Partner
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Walker's Low catmint is the classic catmint for good reason. Long, arching stems carry loose spikes of soft blue-violet flowers in dusky purple calyxes over small, scalloped, gray-green leaves, and the whole plant settles into a billowing cloud about 2 to 2½ feet tall and 3 feet wide.
It was named Perennial Plant of the Year in 2007 and holds the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Despite the name, it is not low; Walker's Low is a garden in England, which has confused gardeners for years.
Walker's Low at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Nepeta 'Walker's Low' |
| Flowers | Soft lavender-blue in dusky purple calyxes |
| Foliage | Gray-green, scalloped, minty-herbal scent when brushed |
| Size | 24 to 30 inches tall, about 36 inches wide |
| Bloom | Early June onward, long blooming with strong rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Awards | RHS Award of Garden Merit; Perennial Plant of the Year 2007 |
| Wildlife | Excellent for pollinators; deer and rabbits leave it alone |
Why it is one of lavender's best partners
Few companions match lavender this closely. Catmint wants the same full sun, the same lean, well-drained soil and the same restraint with water and fertilizer. It opens in early June and blooms alongside lavender, then keeps going after the lavender harvest, so the bed does not go flat in August.
The look is complementary too. Lavender is upright and tidy; catmint is loose and billowing. Put them together and the catmint softens the lavender's edges while the lavender gives the catmint some structure. Their blue-violet and purple tones blend into one long haze of color, and both draw bees all season. The Companion Plant Planner is a good place to try spacing.
Spacing matters
Walker's Low is larger than many newer compact catmints, spreading about 3 feet. Give it that room. If it flops over a young lavender, it will shade it and trap moisture around the crown. Plant it at the front corners of a lavender bed, along a path where it can spill, or between groups of lavender with a clear gap.
Care through the year
- Soil: lean to average. Rich or overwatered soil makes it sprawl.
- Water: regularly the first season, then rarely. It takes heat and dry spells well.
- Midsummer: shear by about a third to a half after the first flush. It regrows fresh and blooms again into fall, and the cut also fixes plants that open in the center during humid heat.
- Winter: very hardy in Michigan with good drainage. Leave stems standing.
- Early spring: cut back once new growth appears at the base.
It has few serious problems. Root and crown rot in wet soil is the main risk.
Formats offered
Walker's Low is offered as a full 72-cell plug tray for growers, mass plantings and long edgings, and as a bare root plant for home borders. See each product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Will cats roll in it?
Some cats enjoy catmint, which is a relative of catnip. Many gardeners find that once the plant is established, it bounces back from a little feline attention.
Can I dry it like lavender?
It is rated poor for drying and only fair for cutting. Enjoy it in the garden and save the drying for lavender.
Is it edible?
No. Grow it as an ornamental.
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