Wooly Betony Stachys byzantina
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- STAH-kees biz-an-TEE-nah
- Description
-
Pleasant scent when crushed; moderate drought tolerance; grown for its soft, fuzzy, silvery green foliage; in hot, humid areas with frequent rains, the fuzzy foliage holds water and can rot; useful in the border or as a ground cover; this plant is resistant to damage by deer; the flowers are an added bonus if one likes the effect, blooming in mid-summer with 6-12 in. tall spikes of bright purplish pink small flowers. 'Big Ears' has larger leaves, seldom flowers and is a very slow spreader.
Quick ID
- Leaves are oblong and flattened at apex (truncate)
- Underside of leaf is purple
- Pattern is dark on light green, resembles wheat
- Every other dark band extends into margin
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Big Ears'
- 'Helene von Stein' (synonymous with 'Big Ears')
- 'Big Ears'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Big Ears'
- 'Helene von Stein' (synonymous with 'Big Ears')
- 'Big Ears'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Stachys
- Species:
- byzantina
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Iran
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Fragrance
- Textural
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 3 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herb
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Texture:
- Medium
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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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Inflorescence is terminal dense spikeform arrangement of verticillasters. Flowers sessile, subtended by reduced leaves(foliaceous bracts). Corolla purple with some mottling internally, bilabiate. Corolla tube <.5 inch long, pubescent externally. Upper lip single, shallowly 3-lobed to entire at apex, .2 inches long, less than half an inch broad. Lower lip 3-lobed. Two lateral lobes shallow, much smaller than central lobe.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Sinuate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are opposite, decussate, petiolate below to subsessile above. Petiole to 3.5in long. Blade elliptic to lanceolate, to 6in long, 2.5in broad, acute, tapering to base, crenate, margins slightly sinuous.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- To 20in tall, multiple from base, erect to ascending, herbaceous, branching, 4-angled. Entire plant covered with very dense grey lanate pubescence.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Plants that fill a similar niche:
-
Lavandula angustifolia
-
Verbena canadensis
-
Stokesia laevis
