Catmint Plant
Almost Continuous Flowers & Low Maintenance
If there is one perennial you must have in your garden, it is the Catmint plant. The one I love best is Walkers Low Catmint.
I have grown this flowering perennial for many years, in various
locations and I can tell you it is a winner. The botanical name is
Nepeta faassenii.
It was the Perennial Plant of the year for 2007 and it certainly deserves this honor.
Things I love About This Perennial
- Catmint flowers almost all season. It's not one of those plants that puts on a great show and then...nothing.
- The flowers are soft and delicate and presents a beautiful haze of color.
- The flowers are purple, but not that strong. Once of my favorite colors in the garden (along with pink!)
- It
is absolutely drought tolerant. Ignore it, give it hardly water,
subject it to a drought, and it still does well. You can't get much more
low maintenance than this!
- If it gets too big
in a particular spot, just cut it back to about 5 or 6 inches high, and
it will grow and flower all over again. You can also just trim it back
to a lesser extent and it will do the same.
- It is not prone to any disease, fungus or insects.
Plant Information
Plant Zone - 3A to 8A
Height - 24" to 36"
Spread - 24" to 36"
Growth rate - average to fast
Form - round with a loose look to it
Exposure - does best in full sun but will tolerate other conditions
How To Use Catmint in the Garden
This plant is just so versatile. It looks great a a single specimen, in a group, as companion plants for roses, and on a slope. Actually due to its drought tolerant qualities, it does very well on problem slopes. A mass of them looks great, as does just one mixed in with other plants.
Using them with roses works very
well. Their feel compliments the roses and yet provide interest due to
the differences.. The lacy foliage, the blue-purple color, the vertical
flower stems all contrast beautifully with roses.
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