it would be this one. Nepata Walker's Low. If you do not have this plant, you need to seriously ask yourself why not. I’ll give you the top 9 reasons to have Nepata Walker’s Low (9 because Letterman has cornered the market on the Top Ten List)
9 Starts blooming early and continues all summer
8 Beautiful lavender colored spikes
7 Reminds you of lavender but without the hassle
6 Aromatic foliage
5 Attracts bees
4 Attracts butterflies
3 Attracts people (constantly asked about it)
2 Tolerates full, hot sun
1 Give it a haircut in early summer and be rewarded with fresh
blooms
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I can go out in the evening and find bees sleeping on the flowers, probably waking up the next morning with a pollen hangover and wondering where they left their keys.
Nepata is also known as catmint (not catnip). I have two cats and they couldn’t care less about this plant. It performs best in full sun and has beautiful blue-green foliage which releases a scent when brushed against. Walkers Low is named for a garden in England not its growth habit, as it reaches a 3’ height and spread. So after reading this I’m sure you are asking yourself, ‘Why don’t I have this plant?’
I have several 'Walker's Low,' and I just love it. It is the 2007 Perennial of the Year, you know :-) I just found out last year that giving it trim about right now (June) does wonders for it. It rebounds right away. I have it planted near 'John Fanick' summer phlox and it makes a pretty combination. Also looks great near Salvia greggii. Actually I think it would look good next to just about anything. Oh, next to Knock-Out Roses, too. :-)
ReplyDeleteI lost a bunch of perennials as my garden was drowned by flooding last year- this is one I miss! I cant wait to replace- BUT not sure where to put yet- since city hasnt changed the quarry's permission of dumping millions of gallons of water- yet. (and its purple- like 70% of my flowers!)
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