Common Name: betony
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Lamiaceae
Zone: 6 to 9
Height: 1.25 to 1.50 feet
Spread: 1.25 to 1.50 feet
Bloom Time: May to October
Bloom Description: Red
Sun: Part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Ground Cover
Flower: Showy
Leaf: Fragrant
Tolerate: Rabbit, Deer, Drought, Shallow-Rocky Soil
Culture
Best grown in evenly moist, well-draining soils in part shade. Tolerates occasional drought but performs best with supplemental water during prolonged dry periods. Best with morning sun and afternoon shade. Tolerant of full sun as long as adequate soil moisture is provided. Hardy in Zone 7-10.
'Mountain Red' offers improved cold tolerance and is hardy in Zones 6-9.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Stachys coccinea, commonly called Texas betony, scarlet stachys, or scarlet hedgenettle, is a rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial native to the southwestern United States and Mexico where it grows in moist crevices, canyon slopes, seeps, shaded cliffsides, and other steep, rocky habitats. Mature plants will reach 1-3' tall with a similar spread. The stems are stout and square shaped with an upright to reclining habit. Ovate-oblong to ovate-deltoid shaped leaves with coarsely scalloped to toothed margins are oppositely arranged along the stems and will reach 1-3" long and 1.5" wide. The stems and leaves have a dense covering of small hairs and a minty fragrance when crushed. Red, tubular, 1" long flowers are held in whorls of typically 6 blooms along terminal, spike-like inflorescences. Blooming starts in spring and can extend into fall depending on the growing conditions. The flowers are attractive to hummingbirds.
Genus name comes from the Greek stacys meaning ear of corn in probable reference to the inflorescence of a related plant.
The specific epithet coccinea means "scarlet", in reference to the flower color of this species.
The common names of this species variously refer to its native range and flower color.
'Mountain Red' is a compact selection of Texas betony that will reach up to 1.5' tall with a similar spread.
Problems
No major pest or disease problems of note. Deer and rabbits tend to avoid this plant.
Uses
Rock gardens, hummingbird gardens. Mass or allow to naturalize into a ground cover for shady areas.