• Stachys officinalis
  • Stachys officinalis
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Stachys officinalis

Betony

Upright spikes of reddish-purple flowers loved by bees make Stachys officinalis a tough, long-flowering British native for wildflower borders and pollinator gardens.

Supplied as an established plant in a 3 litre pot

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Stachys officinalis
Stachys officinalis

Aspect

Full sun to full shade

Hardiness

Fully hardy in most parts of the UK.

Flowers

Summer

Soil

Loam, clay, sand, chalk

About this plant

Native purple spikes, alive with bees

  • Description

    Stachys officinalis, or betony, is a British native perennial wildflower grown for its upright spikes of reddish-purple flowers held above neat rosettes of dark green, crinkled foliage. Flowering through summer, the nectar-rich blooms are a magnet for bees and butterflies, and the square stems mark it out as a member of the mint family. Tough, long-lived and happy in sun or shade, it is ideal for wildflower borders, meadows and pollinator planting, as well as more traditional garden schemes.

  • Why we like it

    “

    Betony is one of those quietly brilliant native plants that works hard for little effort. Its reddish-purple flower spikes are a genuine pollinator magnet through summer, it thrives in sun or shade and on most soils, and it weaves beautifully through wildflower borders, meadows and naturalistic schemes. Long-lived and trouble-free, it also carries a rich history as a traditional medicinal and tea herb.

Key features

What makes it special

Loved by bees & pollinators

Specs & details

The particulars

Botanical name
Stachys officinalis
Common name
Betony
Supplied as
3 litre pot
Flower colour
Purple
Eventual height
40-60cm
Eventual spread
30-45cm
Flowering period
Summer
Habit
Clump-forming perennial
Life cycle
Herbaceous perennial
Hardiness
Fully hardy in most parts of the UK.
Aspect
Full sun to full shade
Soil type
Loam, clay, sand, chalk
Moisture
Moist but well-drained
Position
Mid-border, wildflower area, edging
Plant spacing
Space around 30cm apart (approximately 7 plants per m²)
Growing skill
Easy to grow

Plant calendar

When to plant, when it performs

 
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Planting
Flowering

Plant in spring or autumn. Flowers through summer and self-seeds readily. Plants raised from plugs may not flower until their second year.

Planting & care

Help it thrive

Planting guide

Plant in spring or autumn into moist but well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. It is unfussy about soil and copes with clay, but dislikes waterlogging. Water in well and keep young plants watered through their first season. Space plants around 30cm apart. Plants raised from plugs may not flower until their second year.

Care tips

Very low maintenance. Water in dry spells while establishing, then it largely fends for itself. Deadhead to prolong flowering and to limit self-seeding, or leave some seedheads for wildlife and winter interest. Lift and divide congested clumps every few years in spring or autumn to keep them vigorous.

Winter care

A hardy, low-maintenance perennial. Cut the old flowering stems back in autumn, or leave them standing over winter for structure and seed, then tidy in early spring. The low basal foliage is semi-evergreen and largely looks after itself. It self-seeds readily, so remove the seedheads before they scatter if you want to limit its spread.