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Walker
hybrid catmint cultivar · Four Seasons Nursery, 1988, United Kingdom
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: hybrid catmint cultivar
- Height × spread: 24 to 30 in × 30 to 36 in (60 to 75 cm × 75 to 90 cm)
- Bloom window: April to September
- Color & flower form: lavender blue spikes with small tubular flowers
- Fragrance: 2 noticeable
- USDA hardiness: zones 3 to 8
- Breeder / Year / Origin: Four Seasons Nursery, 1988, United Kingdom
- Awards/registration: Perennial Plant of the Year 2007; RHS Award of Garden Merit
- Pet safety: sources differ; see References
How it differs
- Taller than the name suggests and comparable in height to larger catmints.
- Blooms for months with light shearing after peak flush.
- Forms a dense mound that resists gaps when grown in full sun.
- Usually less enticing to cats than true catnip.
Strengths
- Long flowering season.
- Good drought tolerance once established.
- Strong garden performance noted in independent trials.
- Deer and rabbit resistant.
Care in one minute
Plant in full sun in most of North America; give afternoon shade in hot, humid areas.
Use well drained soils; avoid soggy or overly rich conditions.
Water to establish; then water deeply but infrequently.
Do not overfertilize; excessive nitrogen can cause flopping.
Shear spent stems after the first flush to extend bloom.
Cut back to low mounds in late fall or early spring.
Watch‑outs
- Can relax or lean on rich soils or with too much shade.
- High heat and humidity may require light afternoon shade.
- Shearing is needed to maintain a neat dome and repeat bloom.
Best uses (tags)
Provenance note
Selected in a private Irish garden known as Walker’s Low and introduced by Four Seasons Nursery in 1988.
References
- Missouri Botanical Garden – Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’
- Perennial Plant Association – 2007 Plant of the Year
- RHS – Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’
- University of Wisconsin Extension – Nepeta × faassenii ‘Walker’s Low’
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