Nepeta faassenii Walkers Low - Catnip

Nepeta 'Walker's Low' is robust and easy to grow. It blooms for several months, from May to October, provided the faded inflorescences are cut back with shears in summer. It produces graceful floral stems, longer than those of other varieties, covered in small blue-violet flowers emerging from a cushion of delicate silver-green leaves. A true panacea for difficult and ungrateful soils, this nepeta will show exemplary generosity in any well-drained soil. It is suitable for all styles of gardens, and its combination with old or English roses is absolutely perfect.

Nepeta x faassenii is adored by cats! It is a perennial belonging to the Lamiaceae family, resulting from the cross-breeding of N. racemosa and N. nepetella, native to central and southern Europe. This horticultural creation has given rise to many interesting varieties for gardens, including 'Walker's Low', which was elected "Best Perennial Plant of the Year" in 2007 by the Perennial Plant Association. It stands out for its long and dazzling flowering.

It is a bushy and ramified perennial, with a compact and spreading habit, quickly forming a magnificent ball of leaves measuring about 50cm (20in) in all directions, reaching 60 to 70cm (24 to 28in) in height when in bloom. The foliage is deciduous to semi-evergreen. In spring, it forms a cushion covered in small velvety silver-green leaves. When crushed, the leaves release a curious scent evoking buckwheat pancakes, mint, and animal musk. It flowers from June (sometimes earlier in favourable climates) to October, with a short resting period in case of summer drought. It is covered in a profusion of very long and flexible spikes adorned with tiny intense lavender-blue flowers, with purple velvety bracts. They are very popular with pollinating insects. If the faded flowers are carefully removed, it will produce fresh and dense foliage, and a new flowering.

Nepeta 'Walker's Low' is a truly versatile plant. It prefers moist soils but can adapt to summer drought by reducing its flowering. Its uses are multiple: it can be used to border a path or walkway, to fill the base of bush roses, in wild-looking flower beds alongside Sanguisorba menziesii, Pennisetum alopecuroides, Gaura lindheimei, and Sedum 'Matrona', or in a mixed border to contrast with the yellow blooms of Achillea 'Terracotta', Alchemilla mollis, and Euphorbia characias. It can also be invited into pretty flower pots on a patio or balcony.