PlantFiles: Faassen's Catmint, Ornamental Catmint
Nepeta x faassenii 'Walker's Low'

This is my second season growing Catmint and it's easy to care for and looks good. In my yard the plants in full sun all day are hardier than the ones in partial sun-the difference in growth is very clear. Flower spikes attract bees, moths, butterflies and cats. I'll be cutting back soon to see if it re-blooms; I didn't cut back last year until winter. I love this plant!

This blooms all summer long on the south side of my house and I love the color. Two bumblebees work this plant from sunup to sundown. I have noticed on two occassions goldfinches gathering in this plant. They fly away as soon as I open the front door, so I am not sure what they are up to. I have never heard of this plant being attractive to finches. I would love to know if anyone else has experienced this. My cats like to hide and lounge in the shade underneath this plant. I'm not sure if they like the scent or just the cover.

This plant is bullet proof and thrives on neglect! From a 4" pot it will grow to a 2' high by 3' diameter in one season. Cut it to the ground each spring and stand back.

I started mine from purchased seed. It bloomed later in the season its first year, but this year it was just about the first thing to pop up and bloom, late March or early April. It survived the winter above ground in a pot just fine, and spring freezes and snow didn't seem to slow it down much.

Since I started it from seed, and have found a few little seedlings here and there from last year's plant, I don't know what to make of the claim it doesn't produce viable seed.

I have been growing this particular catmint for a number of years, and it is one of my favorites. It is extremely hardy in my Zone 6, and one of the first plants to bloom in the early spring. I have found that cats do not normally eat this particular plant; however, they do love the scent. If you ever notice a large depression in the middle of your catmint, then you probably have a cat that is laying in the middle of it. A neighbor's cat used to love to lay under my catmint and just smell it. By the way, this catmint will repel rodents and is also a great companion plant for roses.

This is a most dependable plant. Blooms non-stop all summer, not bothered by heat and humidity, and is a first-rate favorite with butterflies, honey bees, bumble bees, hummers and giant moths. There is always something buzzing around my Walkers' Low. It does spread but not invasively and always looks neat if you shear off spent flowers for a new burst of color a little later. Is one of the first things to green up and bloom in the spring and mine (located on south side of house in full sun) were not even nipped when temps dipped to 22 degrees in early April this year.

This plant blooms beautifully from early April until frost, which can be as late as Nov. in my yard.

I cut it back periodically and to the ground in February. My cats are not especially fond of it like they are regular catnip.

Beautiful and reliable bloomer from April to October. As for sterile seeds, I had a few nice nepeta seedlings this year that I will move elsewhere in the garden. Plants with sterile seed are never 100% sterile - they range from 93% - 99% sterile, so you may find a seedling or two in the spring.

I have been growing this plant for four years. It is one of my favorites. For me, this plant grows 18" high x 36" wide. It blooms from late May until early July. By that time, it has begun to flop open a bit. I cut it back by half and get a second, lighter bloom from August until the beginning of October. On rare occasions it has self sown, but the seedlings never amount to much. I have had good luck propagating this plant by division. The Perennial Plant Association has named Nepeta 'Walker's Low' Perennial Plant of the Year for 2007.

'Walker's Low' is a garden, not a description of the plant which gets 30" tall.

I love the fragrance and long bloom time of this plant. But it does get rather long and floppy after being in for a few years. Some of my plants are taking up a good bit more space than I had originally expected. Putting in a grid support early on has helped though.

This is a nice compact (for Catmint) plant that does not flop as much as some Catmints. Very nice foliage, and blooms for a long time. The neighbor's cats like this almost as much as traditional catnip, but they don't cause any permanent damage.

I just planted this, so I wouldnt know if it's a success or not. Is it true cats are very attracted to this plant, the same as catnip? If so I'm in trouble!!

This is a sterile hybrid, so no seed is produced. It must be started from division or cuttings.

This is a compact mounded plant with gray-green foliage. The flowers are lavender-blue and bloom April through fall. I really like this plant. I started several plants from soft wood cuttings last year. It was easy to propagate and seems to be very hardy.