Catmint Walkers Low Companion Plants

If you’re looking for a plant that brings effortless charm and buzzing wildlife to your garden, you’ve found it. The perfect starting point for a vibrant, low-maintenance display is using catmint walkers low companion plants in your sunny borders.

This classic perennial is a garden favorite for good reason. Its soft, gray-green foliage and long-lasting lavender-blue flowers create a beautiful, relaxed look. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, asking for little in return. The real magic happens when you pair it with the right partners. The right combinations can extend your season of color, improve plant health, and create stunning visual contrasts.

This guide will help you choose the best companions for a stunning and resilient garden bed.

Choosing companions for ‘Walker’s Low’ catmint is about more than just color. You need to consider growing conditions, plant shapes, and bloom times. The goal is to create a community of plants that support each other and look good together for months.

Here are the key factors to think about when selecting partners.

What Makes a Good Companion Plant?

Great companion plants share similar needs but offer different forms or textures. For ‘Walker’s Low’, you want plants that enjoy the same sunny, well-drained spot. They should not be aggressive spreaders that will overwhelm the catmint.

Good companions often have contrasting features. Think about upright forms against the catmint’s mound, or bold leaves next to its fine texture. You also want plants that bloom before, during, or after catmint to keep the border interesting.

Finally, consider the ecological benefits. Plants that attract pollinators or beneficial insects make your garden healthier.

Sun and Soil Requirements

‘Walker’s Low’ catmint is adaptable but performs best in specific conditions. Matching these conditions is the first step to success.

Full Sun: This plant needs at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Less sun leads to floppy growth and fewer flowers.
Well-Drained Soil: Excellent drainage is non-negotiable. Catmint hates wet, soggy roots, especially in winter. Sandy or loamy soil is ideal.
Soil pH: It tolerates a wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.
Drought Tolerance: Once established, it is very drought-tolerant. Companions should have similar water needs to simplify care.

Design Principles for Sunny Borders

A well-designed border has rhythm and balance. Using ‘Walker’s Low’ as a anchor plant, you can apply a few simple design rules.

Repetition: Repeat the catmint in drifts throughout the border to tie the design together.
Contrast: Pair its soft, wispy form with bold, structural plants like ornamental grasses or spiky flowers.
Layering: Place taller plants behind it and groundcovers in front to create depth.
Color Harmony: The lavender-blue flowers work with many color schemes: soft pinks and whites, vibrant yellows and oranges, or even deep purples.

Top Perennial Partners

Perennials are the backbone of the sunny border. These reliable plants return year after year, forming lasting partnerships with your catmint.

Roses (Shrub and Landscape Types)

The combination of catmint and roses is a classic for a reason. The billowing, soft blue clouds of catmint soften the base of rose bushes and hide their sometimes-bare legs. It creates a romantic, cottage-garden feel.

Choose disease-resistant shrub roses or landscape roses for the easiest care. The color contrast between blue catmint and pink, white, or yellow roses is exceptional.

Salvia (Perennial Sage)

Salvias are fantastic companions because they share the same love for sun and good drainage. Their vertical flower spikes create a beautiful contrast with the catmint’s mounding habit.

Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’: Deep purple spikes that bloom alongside catmint.
Salvia ‘May Night’: A reliable classic with violet-blue flowers.
Salvia greggii (Autumn Sage): Offers red, pink, or white flowers that can extend the season into fall.

Coreopsis

For a cheerful, long-blooming partnership, add Coreopsis. Their bright yellow or golden daisy-like flowers pop brilliantly against the lavender-blue of catmint. They are equally tough and sun-loving.

Threadleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata) varieties like ‘Moonbeam’ or ‘Zagreb’ are particularly good choices. They have fine foliage that complements the catmint and bloom for a very long time.

Daylilies (Hemerocallis)

Daylilies provide bold, strappy foliage and vibrant summer flowers. While the catmint forms a loose mound, daylilies grow in more upright clumps, offering a strong structural contrast.

Choose reblooming daylily varieties to ensure flowers throughout the summer. The color combinations are endless—apricot, purple, or red daylilies all look stunning with catmint.

Excellent Annual Additions

Annuals let you change the look of your border each year. They fill gaps quickly and provide non-stop color while perennials are getting established or between bloom cycles.

Zinnias

Zinnias are the ultimate sunny border annual. They bring bold, saturated colors—like bright pink, orange, and red—that create exciting contrast with the softer catmint. Their sturdy, upright habit holds up well next to the sprawling catmint.

They also are fantastic cut flowers, so you can bring the beauty indoors. Plant them in groups among the catmint for a lively effect.

Verbena bonariensis

This tall, airy annual (or tender perennial) is a perfect see-through plant. Its slender, branching stems topped with small purple clusters rise above the catmint, adding height without blocking the view.

It self-seeds gently in many gardens, and pollinators adore it. It helps to add a vertical layer that makes the border feel fuller and more dynamic.

Mexican Heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia)

For a finer texture and continuous bloom, try Mexican Heather. It forms a neat, small mound covered in tiny purple, pink, or white flowers from spring until frost.

It loves heat and sun, just like catmint. It works wonderfully as a front-of-border filler, creating a carpet of color around the base of the catmint and other taller plants.

Ornamental Grasses for Texture

Ornamental grasses add movement, sound, and a totally different texture to the garden. Their linear foliage and feathery plumes make the catmint’s flowers and leaves seem even softer.

Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca)

This small, clump-forming grass has intense silvery-blue foliage. It makes a stunning color echo with the gray-green leaves of catmint and provides a spiky, structural contrast right at the front of the border.

It’s evergreen in many climates, giving you winter interest after the catmint has died back.

Fountain Grass (Pennisetum)

The arching form and soft, bottlebrush flowers of fountain grass are a beautiful companion. Varieties like ‘Hameln’ or ‘Little Bunny’ are well-sized for mixing with catmint.

In late summer and fall, their fluffy plumes rise above the catmint, extending the season of interest. They also move gracefully in the wind.

Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum)

For taller back-of-the-border structure, choose an upright switch grass. Varieties like ‘Northwind’ or ‘Shenandoah’ stand straight and tall.

They provide a green or reddish-tinted screen in summer and turn beautiful golden colors in fall, often lasting through winter.

Bulbs for Seasonal Succession

Bulbs planted underneath your catmint can give you early spring color before the catmint even wakes up. As the bulb foliage dies back, the expanding catmint helps to hide the yellowing leaves.

Alliums: The spherical purple flowers of ornamental onions look incredibly modern and architectural poking through the catmint in late spring.
Daffodils: Early-blooming daffodils provide cheerful yellow or white flowers. By the time the catmint is large, their fading foliage is concealed.
Crocosmia: For late summer color, crocosmia bulbs send up fiery red, orange, or yellow flower spikes that rise above the catmint with their sword-like leaves.

How to Plant and Arrange Your Border

Now that you’ve chosen your plants, it’s time to put them in the ground. A little planning now makes for a beautiful, cohesive display.

Step-by-Step Planting Guide

Prepare the Soil: Remove all weeds and grass from the area. Work in several inches of compost or well-rotted manure to improve drainage and fertility. Avoid heavy, wet soils.
Arrange Your Plants: While they are still in their pots, arrange them on the soil surface. Place catmint in groups of 3 or 5 for impact. Position taller plants (like roses, switch grass) toward the back, mid-height plants (daylilies, salvia) in the middle, and shorter plants (coreopsis, blue fescue) near the front.
Check Spacing: Remember that ‘Walker’s Low’ catmint can spread 2-3 feet wide. Give it and its companions room to grow to their mature size without crowding.
Plant: Dig a hole for each plant that is as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Gently loosen the roots, place the plant in the hole, and backfill with soil. Water each plant thoroughly after planting.
Mulch: Apply a 2-inch layer of shredded bark or other organic mulch around the plants. This helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and keep the roots cool. Keep mulch a few inches away from plant stems to prevent rot.

Maintenance Tips for a Thriving Display

A well-planned border is easy to care for. Follow these simple tips to keep it looking its best.

Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish deep roots. Once established, your border will be very drought-tolerant, only needing water during prolonged dry spells.
Deadheading Catmint: After the first major flush of blooms fades in early summer, shear the entire plant back by about half. This encourages a tidier shape and a second, abundant bloom in late summer.
Dividing: Every 3-4 years in early spring, you can dig up and divide catmint clumps that have become woody or less vigorous in the center. Replant the healthy outer pieces.
Spring Cleanup: In early spring, cut back the old, dead catmint foliage to make way for new growth. Also cut back any ornamental grasses you left standing for winter interest.
Support: Catmint rarely needs staking, especially in full sun. If it becomes to floppy, it’s likely not getting enough sun. Taller companions like some salvias may benefit from discreet support.

Common Problems and Solutions

Even the best-planned gardens can have minor issues. Here’s how to handle a few potential problems.

Floppy Growth: This is usually caused by too much shade, too-rich soil, or overwatering. Ensure the plant is in full sun and avoid excessive fertilizer.
Center Die-Out: As catmint ages, the center of the clump can become woody and die. The simple solution is to divide the plant every few years in spring.
Self-Seeding: ‘Walker’s Low’ is generally sterile, but if you see seedlings, they are easy to pull or transplant. True catnip (Nepeta cataria) is the one that seeds vigorously.
Pests: Catmint is largely pest-free. Deer and rabbits typically avoid it, which is a major benefit. Aphids may occasionally appear; a strong spray of water from the hose usually dislodges them.

FAQ Section

What grows well with Walkers Low catmint?

Many sun-loving perennials grow well with it. Excellent choices include roses, salvia, coreopsis, daylilies, and ornamental grasses like fountain grass. They all share similar needs for sun and well-drained soil.

Does Walker’s Low catmint spread?

Yes, it forms a mounding clump that can spread 2 to 3 feet wide over time. It is not an invasive runner, but it does get larger each year. This makes it a great groundcover for sunny spots.

What can I plant with catmint for full sun?

For full sun areas, focus on drought-tolerant companions. Russian sage, yarrow, sedum (Stonecrop), lavender, and blanket flower (Gaillardia) are all superb choices that thrive in the same hot, sunny conditions.

How do you keep catmint from getting leggy?

The best prevention is planting it in full sun. If it does get leggy, you can shear it back hard after its first bloom. This promotes bushier new growth and a second flush of flowers. Avoid over-fertilizing, as this can also cause weak, floppy growth.

Creating a beautiful garden border with catmint is a rewarding project. By choosing the right companion plants, you build a resilient and lively ecosystem. Your sunny border will be filled with color, texture, and life from spring straight through to fall. The relaxed beauty of catmint and its partners brings a sense of ease and abundance to any garden space. With the simple steps outlined here, you can create a stunning display that returns year after year with minimal fuss.