Bishop Wart Betonica officinalis subsp. officinalis
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Stachys densiflora
- Phonetic Spelling
- bet-ON-ih-kuh oh-fish-ih-NAIL-iss oh-fish-ih-NAIL-iss
- Description
-
Creeping betony is a flowering rhizomatous perennial in the mint family found in dry grassland and open woods in most of Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. The Latin epithet, officialis, refers to plants which have a culinary or medicinal use.
In nature, creeping betony is a patch-forming, grassland perennial, 12 to 24 inches tall. Prefers full sun to partial shade in well-drained soils.
Its leaves are stalked on upright stems, oval with a heart-shaped base, wrinkled texture and toothed margins. The plant flowers in midsummer and iith a dense growth habit and showy spikes of pink flowers in the spring and summer.
Use this plant in meadows, cottage gardens, and rock gardens. Flowers attract pollinators.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
White flowers
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
White flowers
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Betonica
- Species:
- officinalis
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- In ancient times, it was thought to protect from sorcery and ghosts. Also use medicinally.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to Western Siberia and Caucasus
- Distribution:
- Massachusetts and New York
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Prostrate
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8a, 8b
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Description:
- Spikes tubular bright pink/lavender flowers. Flowers subsessile. Corolla purple.
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-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Deep green leathery leaves. Petioles of stem leaves 1 1/2 to 3 inches long; basal leaf blade broadly ovate, 3 inches long by 2 inches wide, margin crenate; stem leaf blade ovate, widely spaced. Basal floral leaves sessile, oblong-lanceolate; upper floral leaves linear, margin entire.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems 19 to 30 inches, striate, densely fine pilose.
