Stachys officinalis
Bishop's wort, Betony
Also known as Stachys betonica, Stachys monieri (misapplied)
- Height × spread
- 0.6m × 0.3m
- Position
- Tolerates full sun, likes part shade
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Flowers
- Summer, Autumn
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This is a pleasing small plant that has columnar flowering spikes. They are coloured purple, each head of flowers carrying masses of long tubular blooms that come from warm brown bracts. The plant has long, rather conical leaves with rounded toothy edges and impressed veins on a crinkled surface. The leaves and stems are hairy. It produces flowers from June through to the autumn. It is a plant found growing naturally in grass, on banks and in open places. It was once thought to possess magical properties as well as being a useful herb. A tea can be made from the leaves.
- Flower colour
- Red
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Cube
- Height
- 0.6m
- Spread
- 0.3m
- Season of interest
- Summer
- Flowers in
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Wild flower meadow, Small scale garden, Seaside garden, Herb garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Tolerates full sun, likes part shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Ground cover, Bee attraction
- Maintenance
- Easycare – low/no maintenance
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Found in
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