Stachys
Betony, Hedge nettle, Woundwort
- Height × spread
- 0.25m – 0.6m × 0.3m – 0.7m
- Position
- Full sun
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This is a large group of plants from the humble Stachys officinalis that yields many useful forms, especially for massed planting since they send up sturdy little flower spikes in shades of white, pink and purple that last for a long season. Hunky Stachys macrantha forms are popular garden favourites for summer flowering in the border. Other forms are grown for their foliage, including the grey foliaged Stachys byzantina forms with woolly foliage, the large leaves of Stachys byzantina 'Big Ears' and the refined Stachys citrina with its pale yellow flowers.
- Flower colour
- Lilac, Pink, Purple, Red, Violet, White
- Foliage colour
- Green, Grey, Yellow
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Cone, Cube, Dome
- Height
- 0.25m – 0.6m
- Spread
- 0.3m – 0.7m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Wild flower meadow, Small scale garden, Seaside garden, Rock garden, Prairie garden, Mediterranean garden, Herb garden, Gravel garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, likes part shade, tolerates light shade
- Soil type
- All types
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, most are hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Ground cover, Rabbit resistant, 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
More Stachys
Stachys byzantina
Lambs tongue, Lamb's tails, Woolly betony, Lambs ears, Woolly woundwort
Stachys macrantha 'Robusta'
Big betony, Big sage
Stachys byzantina 'Big Ears'
Lambs tongue, Lamb's tails, Woolly betony, Lambs ears, Woolly woundwort
Stachys byzantina 'Cotton Boll'
Lambs tongue, Lamb's tails, Woolly betony, Lambs ears, Woolly woundwort
Stachys byzantina 'Fuzzy Wuzzy'
Lambs tongue, Lambs tails, Woolly ears
Stachys byzantina 'Primrose Heron'
Lambs tongue, Lamb's tails, Woolly betony, Lambs ears, Woolly woundwort
Stachys byzantina 'Silver Carpet'
Lambs tongue, Lamb's tails, Woolly betony, Lambs ears, Woolly woundwort
Stachys macrantha 'Superba'
Big betony, Big sage