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Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low'
Walker's Low catmint
Caucasus, northeastern Turkey, and northern Iran
Overview
Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low' is a herbaceous perennial in the Lamiaceae forming a mound 24-30 inches (60-75 cm) tall and 30-36 inches (75-90 cm) wide. The cultivar name records Walker's Low, a garden in County Kildare, Ireland, and not the height of the plant. Stems are square in cross-section and grey-green. Leaves are opposite, ovate with scalloped margins, 0.75-1.5 inches (2-4 cm) long, grey-green, and aromatic when brushed. Flowers are two-lipped, lavender-blue, about 0.5 inch (12 mm) long, and carried in loose spikes 6-10 inches (15-25 cm) long with purple-tinted calyces that hold colour after the petals drop. The main flush runs from mid-May into late June, and cutting back brings further flowers into September. Seed set is sparse, so self-sown seedlings are few. Plants reach full size in the second season. Stems splay open from the centre in soils of high fertility, under less than 6 hours of direct sun, and after heavy rain. Cats are drawn to the foliage and flatten plants by rolling in them.
Native Range
The species N. racemosa is native to the Caucasus, northeastern Turkey, and northern Iran, growing on rocky slopes and dry meadows between about 3,000 and 8,000 feet (900-2,400 m). The cultivar Walker's Low arose in cultivation and does not occur in the wild. Plants of the species are naturalised at scattered locations in western and northeastern North America.Suggested Uses
Planted in sunny borders, along drives and path edges, and as an underplanting for roses at 24-30 inch (60-75 cm) spacing, where the mound covers 5-7 square feet (0.5-0.65 square metres) at maturity. Grown in containers of 5 gallons (19 L) or larger in a gritty mix. Flowers are worked by bumblebees, honeybees, and butterflies from May through September, and hummingbirds visit them in North America.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2' - 2'6"
Width/Spread2'6" - 3'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
The main flush runs from mid-May through late June, lasting 5-6 weeks in zones 5-7. Cutting the plant back by half within two weeks of that flush ending brings a second period of flower from late July into September, at roughly 60 percent of the first flush density. Individual flowers last 2-4 days. Purple calyces hold colour for 2-3 weeks after the petals fall.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
lavender-blue with purple-tinted calycesFoliage Description
grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Plants are set 24-30 inches (60-75 cm) apart in free-draining soil at pH 6.0 to 8.0 and reach full size in the second season. Water weekly through the first season; established plants grow without irrigation where annual rainfall reaches 20 inches (500 mm) and wilt only after 3-4 weeks of drought. No fertiliser is applied, since added nitrogen produces soft stems that splay open from the centre. Crowns rot over winter in soil that holds water, and lifespan runs 3-4 years on clay against 10 or more years on sandy loam. Division every 3-4 years in spring restores clumps that have opened at the centre. The aromatic foliage is left alone by deer and rabbits, while cats roll on the plants and break stems.Pruning
Stems are cut back by half within two weeks of the first flush finishing in late June, which clears spent flower spikes and brings a second flowering from late July. Old stems are cut to 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) above the crown in early spring rather than autumn, since they shelter the crown through winter. Cutting into bare woody bases yields few new shoots. Stems that splay after heavy rain are cut back by one third and regrow upright within 3-4 weeks.Pruning Schedule
J
F
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A
M
J
J
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early springsummer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons