Extension Communications
Extension 4-H Youth Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3630
(515) 294-9915
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Extension Communications |
7/15/04
Contacts:
Linda Naeve, Reiman Gardens, (515) 294-8946, lnaeve@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
For the week of July 12, 2004
Big Betony
Linda Naeve
Extension Coordinator
Reiman Gardens
Iowa State University
Most perennial gardens are composed of several plant families that provide an attractive variety of flower, plant and leaf forms. The mint family, Labiatae, is frequently found growing in both ornamental and herb gardens and commonly known as salvia, bee balm, rosemary, lavender, basil, oregano, ajuga, cat mint, thyme and lamb's ear. This week's Reiman's Pick, big betony, is a beautiful, but lesser known member of the mint family that's perfect for perennial gardens.
Big betony, Stachys macrantha, also known as Stachys grandiflora, has all the typical characteristics common to the 3,000 member mint family: square stems, opposite leaves and small, two-lipped tubular flowers. Big betony also produces the characteristic bluish-violet flower spikes seen on many mints. It grows 18 to 24 inches tall with strong, straight stems topped with colorful spikes. Big betony is hardy as far north as USDA Hardiness Zone 3 and comes back reliably year after year.
Big betony emerges in the spring as a rosette of dark green, heart-shaped leaves. These attractive, scalloped leaves are larger than the leaves on most mints and fill in nicely around the base of the plant. In mid-summer, big betony sends up flower spikes that bloom for a few weeks in June and early July.
Like most mints, big betony is very easy to grow. It prefers full sun to partial shade and will tolerate most soil conditions. Although the clumps enlarge and spread, big betony isn't nearly as invasive or aggressive as some of its relatives, such as spearmint, bee balm, lamb's ear and creeping Charlie.
Another attractive feature of big betony is that it is not bothered by diseases or insects nor is it a favorite of rabbits or slugs. The only care required is removal of the spent blooms and the dead growth in late fall. Big betony can be divided in early spring, as soon as new growth appears. Dig the entire clump and cut it into sections. Replant each section 18 inches to two feet apart.
Big betony is very showy when its hundreds of stems and flowers sway in unison in a breeze and resemble waves peacefully lapping a lakeshore. Big betony makes a great groundcover for large, open, sunny areas and is a wonderful plant for the middle of a border garden. It contrasts beautifully with light green foliage, such as lady's mantle and yellow-flowering perennials, perhaps threadleaf coreopsis or 'Coronation Gold' yarrow.
Big betony is a versatile member of the mint family and can be grown successfully in most Iowa gardens. It is blooming beautifully in the newly renovated perennial border south of Joey and Jesse's Herb Garden at Iowa State University's Reiman Gardens in Ames.
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Editors: A color photo, suitable for publication, is available at right. Click on the thumbnail photo to go to the fullsized photo. The picture's fullsize photo is 520K. Caption: Big betony is a member of the mint family that adds a bold impact to the garden in mid-summer with its spikes of bluish violet flowers that form a cloud of color. They are easy to grow in full sun or partial shade and are reliably hardy in Iowa. |
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