- Botanical name: Betonica officinalis
- Common name: Betony
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial
Purple
Red
Green
- Key features:
- Attractive to wildlife
- Flowers
- Prefers rich soil
Betonica officinalis (recently changed from Stachys officinalis) is a British native perennial wildflower, with delightful purple-red blooms and fresh green, toothed foliage. It’s typically found in grasslands and hedgerows, but does well in gardens. It’s most commonly known as betony, but it’s other common names include: common hedgenettle, purple betony, wood betony, bishopwort, or bishop’s wort. Like other members of the dead nettle (Lamiaceae) family, betony can be identified by its square stems and lipped flowers, which are a magnet for bees and other pollinators.
Traditionally, betony was thought to have significant healing properties, and was used to aid digestion and circulation, as well as help to calm the central nervous system and alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. All parts of the betony plant are edible and can be used fresh or dried to make a slightly spicy, aromatic tea, which is said to warm and soothe the body – in short, a cup of wood betony tea will make you feel better, and was once used as a catch-all herbal medicine regardless of the symptoms. Betony is also thought to aid concentration, and was even planted in churchyards to ward against ghosts.
Today, betony makes an excellent bee-friendly wildflower for a native wildflower border or meadow area. Its flowers are particularly favoured by the solitary wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum), which sometimes nests in bee hotels.
How to grow betony
Betony is a vigorous grower, thriving in neutral to acidic soils, and is ideal for using as a wildflower plant. In garden planting schemes, betony works well alongside ox-eye daisy and ornamental grasses, and does as well in sun as in shade. For best results grow Betonica officinalis in moist but well-drained l in full sun to full shade. Sow seed in late summer where it is to flower, or raise from plugs. Cut back in autumn. It will self-seed readily.
How to grow Betonica Officinalis
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Plant size
60cm height
20cm spread
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Aspect
North facing, south facing, east facing, west facing
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Position in border
Front, middle
- Sun exposure: Dappled shade, full shade, full sun, partial shade
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Acidic / clay / heavy / moist / well drained / light / sandy
Plant calendar
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sow | ||||||||||||
Sow |
J
Do not Sow in January |
F
Do not Sow in February |
M
Do not Sow in March |
A
Do not Sow in April |
M
Do not Sow in May |
J
Do not Sow in June |
J
Do not Sow in July |
A
Do Sow in August |
S
Do not Sow in September |
O
Do not Sow in October |
N
Do not Sow in November |
D
Do not Sow in December |
Plant | ||||||||||||
Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
Flowers | ||||||||||||
Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
Prune | ||||||||||||
Prune |
J
Do not Prune in January |
F
Do not Prune in February |
M
Do not Prune in March |
A
Do not Prune in April |
M
Do not Prune in May |
J
Do not Prune in June |
J
Do not Prune in July |
A
Do not Prune in August |
S
Do Prune in September |
O
Do Prune in October |
N
Do not Prune in November |
D
Do not Prune in December |
Collect seeds | ||||||||||||
Collect seeds |
J
Do not Collect seeds in January |
F
Do not Collect seeds in February |
M
Do not Collect seeds in March |
A
Do not Collect seeds in April |
M
Do not Collect seeds in May |
J
Do not Collect seeds in June |
J
Do not Collect seeds in July |
A
Do Collect seeds in August |
S
Do Collect seeds in September |
O
Do not Collect seeds in October |
N
Do not Collect seeds in November |
D
Do not Collect seeds in December |
Betonica Officinalis and wildlife
Betonica officinalis is known for attracting bees, beneficial insects, butterflies/moths and other pollinators. It has nectar/pollen rich flowers.
Attractive to Bees
Attractive to Beneficial insects
Does not attract Birds
Attractive to Butterflies/Moths
Attractive to Other pollinators
Is Betonica Officinalis poisonous?
Betonica officinalis has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People