Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii 'Walker's Low')

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catmints
Featured
Resistances
Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Pollution, Humidity tolerant, Drought tolerant, Salt tolerant
Sun Requirements
Full Sun
Uses
Will Naturalize, Suitable as Annual
Wildlife Attractant
Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Bloom Size
1"-2"
Child plants
one child plant
Containers
Suitable in 3 gallon or larger, Needs excellent drainage in pots
Flower Color
Blue, Other: Lavender-blue
Flower Time
Late spring or early summer, Summer, Late summer or early fall, Fall
Flowers
Showy, Fragrant
Leaves
Unusual foliage color, Fragrant, Other: Green to gray-green heart shaped leaves appear opposite along the stems.
Life cycle
Perennial
Minimum cold hardiness
Zone 4a -34.4 °C (-30 °F) to -31.7 °C (-25 °F)
Plant Habit
Herb/Forb
Plant Height
24 to 30 inches (61 - 76 cm)
Plant Spread
24 to 30 inches (61 - 76 cm)
Awards and Recognitions
Other: 2001 Great Plant Picks award winner; 2007 Perennial Plant of the Year
Propagation: Seeds
Other info: Sterile
Detailed Information

While ‘Walker’s Low’ is a specific cultivar, *Nepeta x faassenii* in general is a hybrid. That means it doesn’t have a single native location. It’s a hybrid created from two other *Nepeta* species.

Here’s the breakdown:

* ***Nepeta x faassenii*** **is a hybrid:** This means it originated in cultivation, likely from crossing *Nepeta racemosa* and *Nepeta nepetella*.
* ***Nepeta racemosa***: Native to the **Caucasus region**, specifically areas in present-day Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
* ***Nepeta nepetella***: Native to **Southern Europe**, particularly the Mediterranean region.

Therefore, while ‘Walker’s Low’ itself was bred and selected in cultivation (most likely in Europe), its genetic ancestors come from the **Caucasus region and Southern Europe**. So, it doesn’t have one single native region but it’s roots are primarily in those two areas.

Suitable in 3 gallon or larger, Needs excellent drainage in pots