Catmint 'Walker's Low' vs Meadow sage 'Caradonna'
Both are blue-violet, both are bee plants and both flower again if cut back after the first flush. The difference is their shape. Catmint is a loose, sprawling cloud that softens an edge; 'Caradonna' salvia is stiff and upright, with near-black stems and spikes of flower, an accent rather than a filler. They are often planted together for exactly that reason.
 Catmint 'Walker's Low'Nepeta x faassenii |  Meadow sage 'Caradonna'Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 24 in tall, 2½ ft wide | 24 in tall, 18 in wide |
| Plant | 24 in apart | 18 in apart |
| Zones | 4 to 8 | 4 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun | Full sun |
| Soil | Dry and sharply drained, lean fertility | Well-drained, average fertility |
| Flowers | Mid May to mid September; lavender | Late May to mid July; purple |
| Leaves | Fine, herbaceous | Medium, herbaceous |
| Job in a bed | Edging | Accent |
| Pets | No toxicity recorded | No toxicity recorded |
| Deer | No record | Resistant |
| Native | No | No |
| Spread | Low risk | Low risk |
Rows where they differ are marked. Flowering times are for zone 5.
Which to choose
- Choose catmint 'Walker's Low' for a longer show (18 weeks of flower against 7).
- Choose meadow sage 'Caradonna' for dry summers and more wildlife.
Can they grow together?
Yes: they grow in the same conditions. Beside catmint 'Walker's Low', meadow sage 'Caradonna' is in flower together for seven weeks, from late May; spires rising out of its mound. They share full sun and zones 4 to 8.
Read more: all about catmint 'Walker's Low', and all about meadow sage 'Caradonna', each with a bed the planner designed around it.