Every year the Perennial Plant Association polls its members to find a plant that requires low maintenance, exhibits multi-seasonal interest and is suitable to many climate types to become its Perennial Plant of the Year.
The designee for 2007 is Walkers Low, a compact catmint that blooms from May until frost if it is clipped back by about two-thirds after the initial flowers fade.
The silver-green foliage of Walkers Low is crinkled and aromatic. Its small blue-purple flowers cluster on arching stems that reach 36 inches tall. The plant spreads to 30 or 36 wide.
All of the 20 species of catmint (nepeta) that are commonly grown in gardens contain the chemical, nepetalactone, which is attractive to some cats. Cats become especially intoxicated by catnip, Nepeta cataria and will damage plants by rolling and writhing in it.
Walkers Low, a selection of Nepeta x faassenii first found in Ireland, does not seem inspire extreme feline activity. But if you have an outdoor cat that is bonkers for catmint, plant or do not plant it accordingly.
The three cats I have shared space with over the years have not been particularly attracted to catnip. About 50 to 60 percent of all cats do respond to it, according to several organizations for cat lovers.
Catmints have been favorites of herb gardeners who often pair them with other gray and silver-leaf plants such as sages, thymes and lamb’s ears. The leaves, which have a lemon-mint flavor, can be brewed into teas thought to ease cold symptoms.
They are often grown with roses to hide their unattractive lower stems. The PPA suggests planting them near the lemon-yellow Moonbeam coreopsis and Moonshine yarrow; deep purple May Night salvia or the purple-pink dianthus, Firewitch.
Walkers Low makes a great border along a walkway and is also good in containers. Bees and butterflies are attracted to catmints while damaging deer and rabbits are not.
Catmints like 4 to 6 hours of sunlight, well drained neutral soil. Walkers Low has few pests or diseases. Once established it is drought-tolerant.
Walkers Low will be available at the Memphis Botanic Garden 2007 spring plant sale April 13-15.