Hi Cynthia :-) I have Walker's Low and had Kit Kat. I have been disappointed this year with Walker's Low. It is an easy grower and has taken the heat and humidity we had this year. I'm disappointed because the first flush of bloom didn't seem to last long this year and after cutting it back the rebloom was minimal. So I'm on the fence about it. The Kit Kat only lasted one season. The cats in the neighborhood wouldn't leave it alone and it was in the front yard. They rolled on it until they killed it. [g] Haven't tried the others.

I felt the same way about Walkers Low. It was new to me this year - I planted a few small ones late last summer/fall. They put on an amazing amount of growth, but it bloomed much earlier than I had expected it would, and when cut back it just looked sort of messy and never really put on another full bloom. I was thinking about maybe pruning it early next year to see if I could get it to bloom later.

I know it's not one you have listed but I love Souvenir D'Andre Chaudron. I had nearly two months of bloom from it this summer and the flowers are much larger than Walker's Low.

I love 'Walker's Lowe'.

Mine has bloomed all summer with no pruning required. I just let it go. It's blooming right now. It seems to bloom non-stop. It deserves all the praise it has received.

I also like 'Little Trudy'.

Thanks everyone! I appreciate your insights. I guess I will pass on the Kit Kat, prairiemoon! Don't need to be luring the feral cats into the yard-our dogs will go after them if they get into the backyard-they killed one several years ago! Very sad. I will have to check out 'Little Trudy' and 'Souvenir D'Andre Chaudron'. Thanks for the suggestions,hh and em. I am always trying, trying, trying to add plants that need more sun than I have and usually have sparse blooms as a result, but my echinacea and salvia are managing, so I thought I would give this a try. I always like the pictures of it that I see here and in catalogues. It seems perfect for that strip-not too high and doesn't need too much water once established. Keep your fingers crossed for me! :)

Well, now I have to wonder if my 'Walker's Low' would have kept blooming if I hadn't cut it back. Also, cyn, I had Walker's Low in the back in 4hrs of sun and it bloomed and was just a bit more floppy.

Good to know. I don't mind floppy-good thing considering the state of my garden these days. I have no business planning a new one when the others are such messes! :)

I'm pretty sure I grow the straight species, Nepeta faassenii. Great plant, blooms non-stop. If a stem starts to decline, I just cut it all the way back.

A bit of a sprawler, as you can see, but I prefer a messy look.

Here it as, on the left, June 12. It's been there 9 years with no dividing.

{{gwi:248541}}

Now see, that is a look I love! I am definitely going to plant a couple. Thanks!

Another nepeta I love is Calamintha nepeta nepata (I believe theres a new name now...it might just be Nepeta nepeta. It is bushy and very refreshing to touch or brush up against. I don't know when it begins blooming because I cut mine back weeks ago for bushiness and it is just flowering now. The flowers are very small. Some say they are white, but I see a touch of blue/lavender in them. It is just a good sturdy mid to late season plant for filling in gaps.
It too can be cut back after blooming the first time and will come back compact and blooming later in the season.

Marie

Thanks, Marie. I will look for that one, too!

Absolutely love walkers low. It really attracts the hummingbirds into the front garden. I have never cut it back, just never seem to get around to do it. It currently has a few blooms but nothing like this early summer!

Jodi

I use nepeta 'Little Tiltch' for a short edger.

hostaholic, i'm definitely with you on that Souvenir d'andre chaudon.deeper purple bloom and v long blooming. but more mid border/upright than the sprawly edge bloomer.

a2z- is that a ginormous alberta spruce or what?
best,
mindy

Mindy, it is indeed an Alberta. It's about 6 feet high and came with the house. Gives a nice backdrop to my garden, although if you get close enough, you can see the dead spots where it doesn't get enough sun.

Walker's Low is used a lot here in Cincinnati and in my yard; does great in full sun but also thriving in a bed under a thick crabapple, I didn't cut mine back because foliage seems to stay quite nice on Walker's Low even when not in full bloom so I just let it mound. As for Calamintha nepeta, it is an incredibly long bloomer, airy like Gypsophila but moundy like Nepeta, incredibly drought tolerant and tough.. . however, it reseeds like crazy in my yard, which is fine in the beds with bigger perennials, but tends to crowd out my lower groundcovers like Sedum and Veronica. So just be warned. Also I don't really think it pops as well from a distance and has a later bloom period than Nepeta.

Wow. I'm beginning to think I need to go ahead and try a variety in several different spots. How much fun will this be! Thanks all-I have made a list (which keeps getting longer-uhoh).