Plant Needs.... Planting site Hardiness: Hardy in UK/Ireland/Scottish Highlands Zones 5 to 9 (-29C to -1C / -20F to 30F) Border/container: Borders Sun/shade: Likes part shade; tolerates sun Soil type: Chalk, Loam (normal) Soil pH: Acid (ericaceous), Alkaline, Neutral Moisture: Dry soil, well drained soil Hazardous: No
Plant care Care required: Low maintenance
Stachys officinalis Bishop's wort, Betony
Plant Looks like... Overall effect Garden style: Cottage garden, Herb garden, Seaside garden, Small scale garden, Wild flower meadow
Colours and scent Flowers: Red Fruit: Leaf: Green Stem: Variegated leaf: No Scent: No
Size and shape Height: 0.60m Height at 10yrs: 0.60m Spread: 0.30m Spread at 10yrs: 0.30m Shape: Cube
Evergreen, Seasons of interest... Blooms/foliage interest in: Summer Evergreen: No, deciduous
Stachys officinalis Bishop's wort, Betony
Plant Names... Botanical name: Stachys officinalis Common name: Bishop's wort, Betony Also known as: Stachys betonica, Stachys monieri (misapplied)
Description... 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.
Typically available as
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Seeds
(GA0)
(GA3)
(GA6)
(GA9)
Bulbs
(GA1)
(GA4)
(GA7)
(GA10)
Plants
(GA2)
(GA5)
(GA8)
(GA11)
Stachys officinalis
Planting your new plant
Water the plant thoroughly when you get it home, and plant out as soon as possible. Make the hole for the plant larger that the pot it is in and the same depth. When removing the plant from the pot, squeeze the sides of the pot to loosen it. Loosen the roots of the plant, put the plant in the hole spreading the roots to encourage them to grow outwards. Fill round the edges of the rootball with soil to the same level as the surrounding soil.
Care for your plant
Plants in containers need plant food to thrive when in growth. Seek advice from your retailer regarding best product(s). Follow the packet instructions when applying plant food. Remove fading flowers to encourage fresh ones.
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