Seasonal Wild Flowers

Betony

Stachys officinalis

Lamiaceae

June to October

It is found throughout the country except for parts of East

Anglia.

See the BSBI distribution map for Betony

It grows on light soils on heathland, open woods and

grassland, and by footpaths and tracks.

Betony is a native, perennial, patch-forming rhizomatous

herb growing up to 75cm (usually shorter).

Flowers are in oblong spikes, with reddish-purple corollas

and spiky bracts.

Lower flowers are in whorls on the stem.

Leaves seem small for the plant (up to 7cm), dark green

with round scalloped edges.

Betony patch by the Lancaster canal

Betony - oblong flower spike

View into corolla - stamens

Bee and spiky bracts

Lower leaf with petiole

Upper leaves - no petiole

Bracts left at end of season

Betony and Lady's Bedstraw