How-to Guide
How to Grow Catmint
The short answer
Catmint (Nepeta racemosa, including the popular 'Walker's Low') is hardy in zones 4-8 and thrives in full sun to part shade in average, dry-to-medium, well-drained soil; Missouri Botanical Garden notes it thrives in dry soils and is very tolerant of drought, though it appreciates afternoon shade in the hottest climates. Lavender-blue flowers run from April through September over fragrant gray-green foliage, and it has no serious insect or disease problems.
The single most useful care task: shear flower spikes after the initial flowering to promote continued bloom. To make more plants, divide — 'Walker's Low' seeds are sterile, so division is the way, and it also means this cultivar won't self-sow around your garden the way seed-fertile catmints can.
Site, soil, and water
Full sun produces the densest, most floriferous plants; part shade is acceptable and even helpful in hot-summer regions. Any average, well-drained soil on the dry side suits catmint, and established plants shrug off drought. Despite the name, 'Walker's Low' is not small — expect 2-2.5 feet tall and 2.5-3 feet wide, so space accordingly.
Shearing and season care
- 1Let the first flush finish — The main wave of lavender-blue spikes starts in spring.
- 2Shear after initial flowering — Cut the flower spikes back — Missouri Botanical Garden advises shearing after initial flowering to promote continued bloom into fall.
- 3Optional tidy-up — Plants sprawled open by late summer can be sheared again; fresh mounded growth follows.
✔ One decisive shear beats a season of nibbling deadheads: catmint regrows into a neat mound and reblooms after being cut back hard.
Dividing and propagation
'Walker's Low' produces sterile seed, so propagate by division: lift the clump in spring, split it into rooted sections, and replant. Sterile seed also means no volunteer seedlings — unlike common catmint, which can self-seed aggressively under ideal conditions.
Problems (few) and cats
- No serious insect or disease problems reported by Missouri Botanical Garden.
- The aromatic leaves do appeal to cats, though this species is somewhat less enticing than true catnip (Nepeta cataria) — expect occasional feline flattening of young clumps.
- Poorly drained winter-wet soil is the main site condition to avoid.
Sources
Reviewed 2026-07-18. We cite university Extension, government, and established horticultural sources — and never invent pesticide rates or dangerous treatments.
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low' — Zones 4-8; full sun to part shade; dry to medium well-drained soil, very drought tolerant; April-September lavender-blue bloom; shear flower spikes after initial flowering to promote continued bloom; propagate by division (sterile seed); no serious problems; leaves appeal to cats less than catnip