Wood Betony, Stachys officinalis

Many gardeners are familiar with lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina), a popular perennial with fuzzy, soft, silver leaves grown more for its foliage than its flowers. It is often used as a front border or edging plant. Another Stachys that grows in our gardens is wood betony (Stachys officinalis). Stachys comes from Greek, meaning “an ear of grain,” which describes the appearance of the inflorescence. The word officinalis refers to a plant with culinary or medicinal use because betony was commonly grown in monastic and physic gardens of apothecaries for a multitude of medicinal purposes.

Many common plant names can apply to more than one plant. For example, there is another wood betony (Pedicularis canadensis) that is a native wildflower in Ontario. It is not a member of the Stachys genus and not the plant discussed in this article. The fact that there is more than one plant called wood betony is a good example of why most gardeners rely on botanical names to identify a specific plant. I have two varieties of wood betony in my garden. The first Stachys officinalis is ‘Hummelo’, and the other Stachys officinalis is ‘Pink Cotton Candy’. Sometimes ‘Hummelo’ is sold as a cultivar of Stachys monieri. ‘Hummelo’ is more of a purple shade, while ‘Pink Cotton Candy’, as its name implies, is a more delicate shade of pink. Both have similar growing characteristics.

Stachys officinalis Characteristics

Betony flowers are dense spikes of tiny, two-lipped flowers that surround the top of long square stems—an identifying characteristic of the mint family of which Betony is a member. The flower stalks rise from neat mounds of dark green, narrow heartshaped leaves with scalloped edges. ‘Hummelo’ and ‘Pink Cotton Candy’ flower stems are quite tall, with an average height of around 60 cm (2 ft). As such, wood betony is a useful mid-border plant. The flowers are attractive to bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators and bloom from early to late summer.

Caring for Wood Betony Stachys officinalis

For those who desire a low-maintenance addition to their garden, Betony fits the bill. It does well in full sun to part shade. It is tolerant of most soil conditions and requires minimal watering once it is established. No deadheading is needed, though removing spent flower stalks can encourage a second flush of blooms. The plants remain quite tidy throughout the season. Even when the flowers have died, they provide some structural interest. Betony has no serious disease or pest issues, though slugs might be occasional nibblers. Another benefit for those living in a more rural area is that betony is not only drought-tolerant but also deer and rabbit-resistant.

Dividing Stachys officinalis

Betony is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae) and spreads underground via rhizomes, but it is not an aggressive plant like many others in the same family. Although it will also self-seed, it is not prolific, and any young plants can be easily removed if not wanted. Plants that become overcrowded can simply be divided and replanted when necessary. While betony can be used as a cut flower, I prefer seeing it growing in the garden and think two or three plants clumped together make an impressive visual impact. I have both varieties in the same general area, towards the middle or back of a border, and they provide an attractive foreground to a wall of large stones edged with creeping juniper.

For all these reasons, I would highly recommend wood betony as a useful addition to the garden.