Betony

Betony, or Stachys, Hummelo is now an iconic perennial made famous by the renowned garden designer Piet Oudolf, after whose hometown it is named. This plant will win you over with its amazing ability to bring a firm structure and at the same time the wild beauty of a blooming meadow to the flowerbed. From a basal rosette of wrinkled, deep green leaves, upright, leafless stems topped with dense spikes of vibrant purplish-pink flowers emerge in June and July. Unlike many other perennials, the stems do not break or flop, so the plant looks neat and elegant even after heavy summer rain. In the garden, it works great in larger groups, where over time it creates a dense cover that gives weeds no chance and looks very natural. It is literally a magnet for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies, who find a rich source of nectar on the deadnettle-like flowers. Thanks to its low-maintenance nature, it is an ideal choice even for beginner growers, because in our conditions it does not suffer from diseases or pests and reliably handles frosts down to -28 degrees. It suits regular garden loamy soil in the sun or light partial shade. If you like making bouquets, betony will also please you as a cut flower. It stays fresh for a long time in a vase and with its vertical lines adds an interesting vertical accent to arrangements, which pairs perfectly with, for example, spherical flowers or delicate grasses.