skip to main content

Cottage Gardens

Who plants 'Walker's Low' Nepeta?

14 years ago

Yesterday morning, I was down at Home Depot getting mulch and 2 plants to use for a birthday bash/crab feast last evening, and ask the fella that seems to be head honcho for the wholesale plant co. that is on site all the time at HD. I asked where I'd find "Walker's Low" nepeta/catmint, His response was that he hadn't seen any come in, but if it had come in when he wasn't there, it would be on the table with the other groundcovers. ???Thinking he might be confused with something else, I proceeded to look for two plants to use for birthday gifts last evening. I chose lantana and cheddar pinks; one lady has a house while the other lives in a townhouse and doesn't have much room except for containers.

Next to the dianthus, is "Walker's Low" but the plant ID showed it as rose/pink. I never knew it came into any other color but blue that you see in so many people's garden photos.(example: "Aiken House and Gardens") Is the rose/pink color something new or has it always come in different colors besides the familiar blue? Maybe somebody who grows "Walker's Low" nepeta/catmint can respond to this.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

newyorkrita
14 years ago
It is a blue color. Home Depot and the big box stores are notorious for their incorrect labels.
0
armyyife
14 years ago
I have lots of 'walkers low'. They come in a purplish blue and also a white color but not pink. rita is right they often have incorrect labels or very general labels without the specific variety on it.
0
Related Discussions
Nepeta Walker's Low not blooming
Q
Comments (3)
I would give them more time. It sounds like they've been through a lot recently! I have these and they are quickly becoming a favorite. I think they are nice even when they aren't blooming.
...See More
Nepeta Walkers Low real estate needs
Q
Comments (11)
I planted it and altho' I don't grow roses, there's a peony growing behind and slightly to the right of it and I can plant some Russian sage near it as well. At the moment there's baptisia/false indigo a foot to the right, pink mallow in the rear and pink gaura/wandflower to the left but there's room for something between the nepeta and the wandflower. There's a daylily called 'Smokey Mountain Autumn' close to it as well as gaillardia 'Golden Goblin.' I just might have to get more nepeta--I'm really liking it and I've got a huge area of full sun that is ready for planting just waiting to be filled up. Thanks for sharing all the great suggestions & information!
...See More
Transplanting a Walkers Low Nepeta seedling (?) or runner
Q
Comments (1)
I divide my nepeta in spring when the green base foliage is about an inch or so high. I just shovel out a section or two and plant the kids. The side where I steal a section heals up quickly isn't noticeable when the blooms start. I've also transplanted seedlings when I've found them around -- those are usually from my Six Hills Giant. I don't have a problem with the flopping here in zone 7 unless a heavy rain flattens out the middle. Probably because mine blooms pretty quickly while still small (starting in April for Six Hills and early May for WL) and I cut it back after the first blooms and get subsequent blooms. Keeping it trimmed and shaped will keep flowers coming. That said, we may have different definitions of flopping...I give Walkers Low and Six Hills Giant at least 3 feet of space per plant. I've never caged mine. The only thing that I plant closer to it is spring bulbs. Cameron Here is a link that might be useful: nepeta pix and info
...See More
trim back Nepeta Walkers Low?
Q
Comments (9)
Usually be the time the color is mostly gone from the blooms, new basal foliage has sprouted on my Walker's Lows. I cut all the stems back as low as I can using hedge clippers. The plants form nice neat grey green foliage mounds which will eventually get tall again and put out more blooms. Sometimes (if I'm really quick to cut them back), there will be little or no basal foliage, but it doesn't matter - they regrow just fine. I personally find the foliage mounds to be attractive during the regrowth period, and I am careful to cut the stems back very low so they do not show at all through the new foliage.
...See More
scully931
14 years ago
Mine is purplish/blue. And I wouldn't consider it a groundcover. I mean, it covers the ground, but taller than I usually think of 'groundcover.' I LOVE mine! :-)
0
newyorkrita
14 years ago
Walkers Low is in my opinion the best of the Catmints. It's a stunning color, no care once it is established and stays in bloom continiuosly until frost. Of course, its not really that low. But I guess compaired to some of the tall reseeding catmints that used to be around, it is short. No reseeding.
0
pippi21
Original Author
14 years ago
I would think that Home Depot doesn't place the plant tags in the plants. They come from the grower in trucks several days a week and the grower has employees that are assigned to Home Depot to unload the trucks when they come in, answer garden questions for the customers, and help with making choices. There is at least 6 or more staffed at HD every day, probably more. They move the plants about and arrange them on tables,etc. I will double check that same aisle hopefully this weekend to see if there are any more of those plants left and look at the plant tag and report back. I knew all the pictures I'd seen of this plant were bluish/purple. Thanks for your responses. Maybe I read the tags wrong.
0
lavendrfem
14 years ago
I have walkers low and it's a purplish blue color about 24 inches high (probably a little more). Home Depot has mis-labelled so many plants I've bought from them.
0
thinman
14 years ago
I put in a few of these and they are exactly my kind of perennial. They thrive without care, get nice and tall, and bloom like crazy for pretty much forever. My only mistake was putting them too close together. They got big fast.

The name Walker's Low apparently comes from the name of the garden in England (or Ireland?) where the plant was discovered, and doesn't relate to their height.

ThinMan
0
pippi21
Original Author
14 years ago
Walker's Low is on my list of starter plants to buy, along with May Night Salvia and of course, my PW petunias. Might have to splurge for dusty miller too and purple verbena
0

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Walker's Low Catmint

By Annie Thornton

Prolific purple blooms, fragrant leaves, and cold-hardiness makes this a go-to plant for almost any garden

PLANTING IDEAS 7 Stunning Plant Combinations for Low-Water Gardens

By Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Find inspiration in these beautiful drought-tolerant companion plantings

PLANTING IDEAS Modern Planting Ideas From a Historic English Garden

Low-maintenance, climate-fitting plants are just the beginning of the good things in this bishop’s updated garden

ACCESSORIES 8 Low-Cost Luxuries With a Big Payoff

By Apartment 46 for the Home

Consider the small stuff — like switch plates and throw pillows — to give your home a touch of class

INSPIRING GARDENS Smart Plantings Grace a Hillside Garden

By Bonnie Monte

Fire-wise and low-water plants create a lush backdrop for bocce playing, swimming and hanging out by the fire

GARDENING GUIDES 9 Clay-Busting Native Flowers for Summer Sun

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

These plants survive and even thrive in tough clay soil east of the Rocky Mountains

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Eragrostis Spectabilis

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Purple lovegrass thrives in tough conditions. It’s a native grass with a wide range across the eastern U.S.

PURPLE FOLIAGE Great Design Plant: Smoke Tree

By Annie Thornton

Plant a 'Grace' smoke tree for months of red, burgundy and purple foliage and an unusual spring bloom

BLUE AND GRAY FOLIAGE Great Design Plant: Blue Chalk Sticks

By Annie Thornton

Great color and texture make this drought-tolerant succulent a favorite for landscape designs

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Pride of Madeira

By Annie Thornton

Try this drought-tolerant stunner for its massive flower spikes that burst with purple, drawing butterflies and birds to the garden

Sponsored