Easy plant for sunny spots: Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ may be the cat's meow.
Written: Jun 10 '08 (Updated Jun 10 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to grow, few pests
Cons: People call it catnip when it is actually catmint!
The Bottom Line: read the review
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| laura10801's Full Review: Catnip Plant - Nepeta 'Walker's Low' |
SIGH! Nepeta is CATMINT not Catnip. I see Epinions made the common mistake of confusing the two, but there is a big difference between these two plants.
With that said, let me tell you about Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low.’ First of all, it is not so named because it is a short plant, it is actually named after a garden in England. Walker’s Low is actually a medium to large sized perennial, growing up to 36 inches tall with a spread of 30-36 inches. At the moment, my plants are about 18 inches tall and still growing. I planted them last fall and they started coming in around the middle of spring this year. They are very showy with lots of little leaves layered with little purple flowers. The effect is lovely and striking. I recently saw a mass planting of Nepeta and it was gorgeous!
Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ also happens to be 2007 winner of Perennial Plant Association (PPA) Plant of the Year Award. The PPA chooses its winners based on the following criteria:
* suitable for a wide range of climate types
* low maintenance
* easily propagated - easily comes true from seed or vegetative propagation
* exhibits multiple seasonal interest
According the PPA, ‘Walker’s Low’ is hearty from American planting zones 3-8. That means it will make it through winter temps as low as -20 degrees F!
My experience with ‘Walker’s Low’ is that it is a very easy, low maintenance plant. Thus far, rabbits have left it entirely alone and it appears to have no insect pests. It reminds me of English Lavender, not just because of its color, but also because it quite aromatic when rubbed, it is drought tolerant (I have not put this to the test), it is not very picky about soil, and it is very easy to grow in full sun. It is said that it will bloom all summer if it is cut back after the blooms fade. This makes me regret putting it only in my front garden bed, it seems perfect for my cutting garden, and I might move one of them to the my cutting garden later this year if I actually get motivated enough to do so.
Thus far, I have no complaints about Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low.’ Someone told me that although it is NOT catnip, some cats are drawn to it as if it was catnip. None of the neighborhood cats or any other critters have shown much interest in it, so maybe I’m lucky. I feel this is a good plant for the novice gardener who has a sunny spot with at least 36 inches of room to plant this pretty perennial.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
laura10801
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Member: Laura
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
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