Nepeta Junior Walker (Garden catmint)

Nepeta ‘Junior Walker’, often known as Garden Catmint, is a charming and compact variety beloved by gardeners for its graceful mounds of aromatic foliage and masses of delicate lavender-blue flowers. This non-seeding hybrid is a tidy, low-maintenance alternative to traditional catmints, making it perfect for smaller spaces or for lining pathways with soft, cascading edges.

Reaching a height of around 30–40 cm and spreading up to 60 cm, ‘Junior Walker’ forms dense, neat mounds of grey-green, slightly fuzzy foliage that exudes a refreshing fragrance, especially when brushed against or warmed by the sun. The blooms appear from late spring through to early autumn, offering a long-lasting display that attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, making it an excellent addition to wildlife-friendly gardens.

What makes Nepeta ‘Junior Walker’ truly exceptional is its resilience. It’s drought-tolerant once established, thrives in poor to average soils, and is unbothered by deer or rabbits. Unlike other Nepeta varieties, it doesn’t self-seed, so it stays exactly where you plant it, maintaining its compact charm without unwanted spread.

Whether used to soften the edges of borders, weave through rock gardens, or complement roses and other cottage garden favourites, ‘Junior Walker’ brings effortless beauty and reliability to any garden. Its compact size and long flowering period also make it ideal for containers, offering versatility for both traditional and modern garden designs.

Key Features:

- Botanical name: Nepeta × faassenii 'Junior Walker' ('Novanepjun'ᴾᴮᴿ)
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Hardiness: Fully hardy
- Height and Spread: Grows to 30–40 cm tall and spreads up to 60 cm.
- Plant spacing: 5 plants per m2
- Foliage: Grey-green aromatic leaves with a soft texture.
- Flowering Period: Blooms from late spring to early autumn
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Wildlife-Friendly: A magnet for pollinators, especially bees and butterflies.
- Non-Seeding: Compact, non-invasive habit ideal for smaller spaces.
- Hardy and Drought-Tolerant: Thrives in full sun and poor soils with minimal care.

Planting and Care Tips:

- Plant in well-drained soil in a sunny location for best results.
- Trim lightly after flowering to encourage further blooms and maintain a tidy shape.
- Perfect for edging borders, containers, or as ground cover in sunny spots.
- Combine with roses, lavender, or ornamental grasses for a stunning display.