Russian sage vs Catmint 'Walker's Low'
From a distance both are a haze of lavender-blue over grey leaves, for full sun and dry soil, and both are in the mint family. Catmint is a low, sprawling mound for the front of a bed, flowering from late spring and again after shearing. Russian sage is twice the height, a see-through veil of upright silver stems for the middle of the bed, and it starts later, in midsummer. Planted together they cover the season.
 Russian sageSalvia yangii (formerly Perovskia) |  Catmint 'Walker's Low'Nepeta x faassenii | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 4 ft tall, 3 ft wide | 24 in tall, 2½ ft wide |
| Plant | 3 ft apart | 24 in apart |
| Zones | 4 to 9 | 4 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun | Full sun |
| Soil | Dry and sharply drained, lean fertility | Dry and sharply drained, lean fertility |
| Flowers | Mid July to mid September; lavender | Mid May to mid September; lavender |
| Leaves | Fine, deciduous | Fine, herbaceous |
| Job in a bed | Specimen | Edging |
| Pets | No toxicity recorded | No toxicity recorded |
| Deer | Resistant | No record |
| Native | No | No |
| Spread | Moderate risk | Low risk |
Rows where they differ are marked. Flowering times are for zone 5.
Which to choose
- Choose Russian sage for warmer gardens (to zone 9), dry summers, more height (4 ft against 24 in) and more wildlife.
- Choose catmint 'Walker's Low' for a longer show (18 weeks of flower against 10) and a smaller space (24 in against 4 ft).
Can they grow together?
Yes: they grow in the same conditions. What catmint 'Walker's Low' brings beside Russian sage: in flower together for 10 weeks, from mid July; a low mound at the foot of its spires; low enough (24 in) to stand in front of it. They share full sun and zones 4 to 8.
Read more: all about Russian sage, and all about catmint 'Walker's Low', each with a bed the planner designed around it.