Growing guide

How to grow Stachys and Betonica

Perfect for the front of borders, there perennial plants flowers in summer. They generally prefer sun and well-draining sites, but are easy to grow requiring just deadheading after flowering. The flower spikes come in purple, pink or white and fit well in cottage-style gardens. Lamb's ear blooms are also loved by insects.

Stachys and Betonica were, until recently, both in the genus Stachys. In this guide, we’ve kept them together as you will find them under both names in garden centre and nurseries at the moment.

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Quick facts

  • Easy to grow in a sunny, fairly well-draining site
  • Flower generally in late spring and summer
  • Deadhead after flowering
  • Plant in spring ideally
  • Herbaceous perennials that last for many years
  • Propagate by division or seed

All you need to know

Before you get started
Planting
Ongoing care
Pruning and training
Propagating
Problems
While we think all this information will be helpful to you, we always recommend to read the instruction labels on your plants.

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The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.