Woundwort Betonica officinalis
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Woundwort:
Previously known as:
- Stachys betonica
- Stachys officinalis
- Description
-
Purple betony is an herbaceous perennial in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. It's an old and respected medicinal plant that was in use in ancient Egypt. Its native habitat includes meadows, gardens, parks, pastures, hedge banks and open forest woodlands.
It has large, heart shaped leaves on long stems that arise from the root. These are the majority of the leaves. Smaller leaves grow from the slender, squared stems. These alternate leaves are stalkless and appear in pairs at wide intervals along the stem. Both types of foliage have a rough texture, a fringe of short hairs. The surface has glands that emit a bitter oil that is quite aromatic.
The flowers are two lipped and arranged in a whorl. Above the whorl is bare stem, followed by the stalkless leaves described above, then additional flowers. This pattern repeats, resulting in a spike of alternating flowers and leaves.
The flowers are 2-lipped and have 3 lobes, with the central lobe the largest. There are also 2 short stamens and 2 long stamens.
The cultivar 'Hummelo' has tiny, rose-lavendar, two-lipped flowers. They form as spikes at the top of leafless stems. They sit well above the foliage.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious issues, however, snails and slugs may damage the plant.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Hummelo'
Two-lipped rose/lavender flowers.
- 'Hummelo'
- 'Hummelo'
- Tags:












- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Hummelo'
Two-lipped rose/lavender flowers.
- 'Hummelo'
- 'Hummelo'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Betonica
- Species:
- officinalis
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, northwestern Africa, Caucasus, and Siberia
- Wildlife Value:
- Wildlife are attracted to this plant. It is pollinated by bees.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Buffer
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Edibility:
- Its leaves and flowering tops are used in making tea.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Columnar
- Erect
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Description:
- The shiny fruits have slight bristles. It grows as a schizocarp, a dry fruit that splits into single seeded parts when it ripens.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are two lipped and appear in whorls along the stem.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Long stemmed Basel leaves grow on the lower portion of the plant. Stemless upper leaves
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The erect stems are soft and hairy.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Pond
- Pool/Hardscape
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought