Best catmint (Nepeta) cultivars

I have grown *Nepeta* 'Walker's Low' along the front border of my garden in Melville, Long Island for six years. It is probably the single most low-maintenance, high-impact plant I grow. The clumps bloom lavender-blue from late May through late June, I cut them back to 4 inches after the first.

—- title: "Best catmint (Nepeta) cultivars" slug: best-catmint-cultivars hub: plants category: "Cultivar guide" description: "Sourced guide to the best catmint cultivars including Walker's Low, Six Hills Giant, and compact new introductions, with first-person Long Island observations." date: 2026-06-10 updated: 2026-06-10 author: "Thomas A." reading_time: 9 —-

I have grown Nepeta 'Walker's Low' along the front border of my garden in Melville, Long Island for six years. It is probably the single most low-maintenance, high-impact plant I grow. The clumps bloom lavender-blue from late May through late June, I cut them back to 4 inches after the first flush, and they rebloom from mid-August through frost. The deer have browsed other plants around them but have never touched the catmint. They have survived my sandy loam, occasional summer droughts, and three zone 7a winters without any special treatment.

The genus Nepeta contains roughly 250 species, but most garden catmints are either Nepeta × faassenii (sterile hybrid, does not set seed) or N. racemosa selections. Per Missouri Botanical Garden, N. × faassenii is a hybrid of N. racemosa and N. nepetella, sterile (which prevents the reseeding that makes true catnip (N. cataria) weedy), and the parent of most ornamental catmints in the trade.

Species and hybrid background

Per NC State Extension, the most common garden catmints are:

• ***Nepeta × faassenii*** — sterile hybrid; the majority of named ornamental cultivars; does not reseed
• Nepeta racemosa — seed-fertile; some cultivars derived from this species; smaller and slightly different bloom habit
• Nepeta sibirica — taller species (2—3 ft); less commonly grown; per Missouri Botanical Garden, used for larger borders

Standard and large cultivars (18 inches to 3+ ft)

'Walker's Low'

Despite the name, 'Walker's Low' is not particularly low — it grows 18—24 inches tall in my garden and spreads to 24—30 inches, per Penn State Extension. It was named for Walker's Low, a garden in Northern Ireland, not its height. It is the RHS Award of Garden Merit selection and the most widely sold catmint in the US trade.

Per Missouri Botanical Garden, 'Walker's Low' produces lavender-blue flower spikes from May—July, responds strongly to hard cutback with a second flush in August—September, and is hardy in zones 3—8. It has sterile flowers (no reseeding) and has earned perennial trials honors at multiple universities.

'Six Hills Giant'

Per Missouri Botanical Garden, 'Six Hills Giant' is the largest commonly grown catmint — 2—3 feet tall by 3—4 feet wide. Lavender-blue flowers from May—August. The sheer mass of bloom is greater than 'Walker's Low' due to size, but the plant is too large for most front borders. Best used as a hedge, bank cover, or massed informal ground cover. Zones 4—8.

'Purrsian Blue' (PW introduction)

Per Proven Winners, 'Purrsian Blue' was specifically selected for more compact, upright habit than 'Walker's Low' — 18—22 in. tall, neater in the garden. Slightly more vivid blue than the standard form. Zones 3—8.

'Cat's Meow' (Psfike)

Per NC State Extension, 'Cat's Meow' is a PW introduction growing 18—24 in. with a more mounded, controlled habit than older selections and particularly heavy rebloom after cutback. Zones 3—8.

Compact cultivars (under 18 in.)

'Blue Wonder'

Nepeta racemosa selection; 10—15 inches tall by 15 inches wide; deeper blue than most faassenii types; per Missouri Botanical Garden, one of the best compact catmints, suitable for edging and container planting. Zones 3—8.

'Little Titch'

8—12 inches; per RHS, the most compact commercially available catmint; suitable for rock gardens and the very front of borders. Less vigorous rebloom than larger types.

'Junior Walker'

Compact version of 'Walker's Low'; per Proven Winners data, 14—18 in. with all the flower density of the standard version; useful where the full-size 'Walker's Low' would overrun smaller borders.

Pruning: the cutback method

The midsummer cutback is the most important management step. Per Penn State Extension:

1. After the first bloom flush fades (typically late June—early July in zone 6—7), cut the entire plant back to 4—6 inches
2. The plant will regenerate and produce a second bloom flush in 4—6 weeks
3. The second flush (August—September) is typically as vigorous as the first

Skipping the cutback produces a sprawling, messy clump with reduced second bloom. I have done this experimentally in my own garden — the non-cut plants looked poor from July through August and the rebloom was sparse.

My garden observations (Melville, NY, zone 7a, 2020—2026)

'Walker's Low' in my sandy loam performs on one watering per week in dry summer periods — it does not need more in this soil type. In clay-heavy soils, per Penn State Extension, overwatering is a greater risk than drought; catmint is susceptible to crown rot in wet, heavy soils.

The first bloom on my plants (south-facing border, 8+ hrs sun) typically begins in the last week of May. I cut back on July 4 or shortly after. Second bloom begins mid-August and runs to frost in late October. Per Missouri Botanical Garden, this pattern is typical for zones 6—7.

Site requirements

Per Missouri Botanical Garden:

• Full sun to partial shade (3—4 hrs tolerated, but bloom is reduced)
• Well-drained to dry soil; poor soil is acceptable; rich soil produces floppy growth
• pH range: 6.0—8.0; tolerates alkaline conditions
• Drought-tolerant once established; crown rot in poorly drained or overwatered soil is the main failure mode

Deer resistance

Per Rutgers NJAES, Nepeta species are rated "rarely severely damaged." The aromatic minty-camphor foliage is a genuine deterrent. In six years of growing 'Walker's Low' in a zone with high deer pressure, I have seen zero browse damage.

Common problems

Frequently asked questions

Is catmint the same as catnip? No. Catnip is Nepeta cataria — it does attract cats and it reseeds aggressively. Ornamental catmints (N. × faassenii and N. racemosa) contain lower levels of nepetalactone and are sterile or less aggressive reseeders, per Penn State Extension. That said, cats do react to some ornamental catmints, including 'Walker's Low', though less intensely than to true catnip.

When does catmint bloom? Per Missouri Botanical Garden, first flush is May—July depending on zone; second flush (after cutback) is August—September. In zone 7a, my plants typically bloom first in late May—June, then again mid-August—October.

How cold-hardy is catmint? Nepeta × faassenii cultivars including 'Walker's Low' are reliably hardy to zone 3, per Missouri Botanical Garden. Very few perennials with this level of ornamental performance also survive Minnesota winters.

Does catmint spread or become invasive? N. × faassenii cultivars do not set viable seed and spread only by crown expansion — manageable by dividing every 3—4 years. Per NC State Extension, the clumps are easily divided in spring and give away readily. This is not an invasive plant.

Sources

1. Missouri Botanical Garden — Nepeta genus
2. Missouri Botanical Garden — Nepeta 'Walker's Low'
3. Missouri Botanical Garden — Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant'
4. Missouri Botanical Garden — Nepeta racemosa 'Blue Wonder'
5. NC State Extension — Nepeta × faassenii 'Cat's Meow'
6. Penn State Extension — Catmint
7. Rutgers NJAES — Deer-resistant plants
8. Royal Horticultural Society — Nepeta cultivars