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| I'm considering bordering a big daylily bed (12x6) with Nepeta Walker's Low Catmint. The bed is in my front yard and stretches long-wise from the sidewalk to my front walk. In other words - everyone sees it.
I usually like to mix perennials sort of English Garden style but this bed is mostly daylilies with some tall Echinacea and a big patch of balloon flowers. The length of it borders the driveway and the other length of it is empty waiting for plants. I do like Walker's Low and I know it's hardy and performs well... I'm just wavering because I've never just planted a row of one thing. Will it look too formal? I can get really nice looking ones in 6" pots (very full though) 3 for $20 so I would plant them 1 1/2 feet apart??? So I would need about 5 for a 12 foot long stretch of garden bed?
P.S. They daylily bed consists of 40 daylilies - all different varieties and colors and heights. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| I think ti would add continuity to a wild and wonderful daylily, platycoten, ecinacea garden. Go for it! |
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- Posted by mad_gallica Z5 Eastern NY (My Page) on Sat, Jun 11, 11 at 14:47
| Check out the myriad threads on the size of Walker's Low. The big problem I see with this idea is that this is not a small, edging plant, but a good size perennial. Three feet spread by 2 ft high seems to be a decent size consensus. So they will take up the front half of the bed. There are smaller catmints that will be more of an edging plant. Dropmore is one. There are others. |
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| I agree with mad. Walkers Low is a bit too rangy/unkempt looking in it's growth habit to work well as a border for a bed. Under certain conditions it will flop open. At a 3 foot reach in every direction when flopped open it will be all over it's neighbors and out over the edge of the bed. |
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- Posted by echinaceamaniac 7 (My Page) on Sat, Jun 11, 11 at 17:28
| I use it to edge my rose flower beds. It's perfection. It may be my favorite plant this year. There is no plant I've seen that is so hardy and reliable. The foliage is interesting too. It has such along season of interest. It's easily propagated too! If it gets too large, prune it back and root the cuttings. Trimming it actually makes it bloom longer. Full sun is great for them! |
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- Posted by gardenweed_z6a 5b/6a N CT (My Page) on Sat, Jun 11, 11 at 19:06
| I agree with mad & gazania--Walker's Low catmint is gorgeous but its size will distract & draw the eye away from all those beautiful daylilies. What about coral bells, lady's mantle, dianthus or some other low-growing, low-maintenance perennial? |
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| I love coral bells and lady's mantle. They do so well in the shade that I forget they do well in the sun too. (not fond of dianthus). It's not as easy to find lady's mantle but I think I'll go that route. Thanks guys! I do love catmint, but they do get large. |
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- Posted by gardenweed_z6a 5b/6a N CT (My Page) on Sun, Jun 12, 11 at 5:37
| I'm growing lady's mantle from seeds I harvested from my own plants that I winter sowed. I admit they're slow growing but that's one of the features I like most about them--they don't need cutting back and stay a nice size even when fully grown. They're also fabulous-looking after a rain:
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| I think it would grow too large also. I have it and especially in bloom, it's really tall (3' easily). What about one of the other smaller catmint cultivars? |
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| ok, there doesn't seem to be many low growing perennials out there that would look good as a bed border en mas. I'm starting a new thread to ask about some other new ones I have to see how they would do. Grrrr. |
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| Can you get ahold of nepeta "Little Titch" in your area? Its scale would be much more appropriate for a border -- mine are only about 12" tall at best -- but otherwise would give you the same feel as Walker's Low. |
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| I'll look for it, but I haven't seen it so far. I'm calling a couple big nurseries now to see what they have - same the time in driving. |
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| It's a beautiful plant and I get tons of compliments on mine BUT, I agree it gets really big. See my pics in this post: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/peren/msg0614303216313.html?5
Well, that didn't copy as link (sorry) so post is titled something about Nepeta Walker's Low Catmint Leaves Yellowing at Bottom (or something like that, about halfway down). And this is only the 2nd year for that plant and it was nearly dead when I planted it in Fall of 2009. Guess it depends on how much 'border space' you have in front of your lilies. Sure would look pretty IF you had a good couple of feet....LOL |
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| Here is an example of what Walkers Low will do. In this first pic, the two small "twin" mounds in front of the Daffs and gazing ball are Walkers . Pic taken April 25.
This second pic was taken June 7. That lavender/bluish froth is the Walkers. Not a good plant to use as edging for the length of the border, but I love it where it is in this bed.
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| Ok, in then end I planted 2 good size Lady's Mantle, 2 small Walker's Low catmint, and 2 good size Coreopsis Moonbeam and then annuals - verbena on the ends. I have a feeling I'll be moving the catmint when they get too big next year or the year after and just let the coreopsis moonbeam and lady's mantle take over the space. I did find a low growing catmint for sale but it was twice as much as the other catmint for such small plants. $15 for a tiny plant - forget it. thanks for the info and help. I'm so glad to just have it done! |
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- Posted by eightzoner (My Page) on Tue, Jun 14, 11 at 13:41
| You've already made your choice, but thought I'd pipe up. I, too, have mixed feelings about my walkers low nepeta, because I haven't given it quite enough room where it's planted. But I have been admiring several newish mass installations around Vancouver that this city has done on public property, meridians, etc and it is absolutely spectacular. They are using it a lot in the narrow meridians on busy streets -- narrowish beds maybe 4' feet wide with nepeta in long, long lines, sometimes with tall grasses. So beautiful. I'm starting to like it best like this -- on it's own in long borders the way you often see done with lavender. I will try to get a pic next time I drive by one. Sheri |
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