Purple betony is an herbaceous perennial wildflower in the mint family (Lamiaceae). Its native habitat includes meadows, gardens, parks, pastures, hedge banks, and open forest woodlands. Growing in matted clumps, it slowly reaches 1 to 2 feet in height and width. Plant in full sun to partial shade in well-drained, moist, neutral to acidic soils. Once established, this plant is resistant to drought. Propagate this plant by seeding in the late summer, fall or early spring and it also self-seeds readily. It has large, heart-shaped leaves on long stems that arise from the root. These are the majority of the leaves. Smaller leaves grow from the slender, squared stems. These alternate leaves are stalkless and appear in pairs at wide intervals along the stem. Both types of foliage have a rough texture and a fringe of short hairs. The surface has glands that emit a bitter oil that is quite aromatic. The showy purple-red flowers are arranged in a whorl. Above the whorl is a bare stem, followed by the stalkless leaves described above, then additional flowers. This pattern repeats, resulting in a spike of alternating flowers and leaves. The lipped flowers are a magnet for bees and other pollinators. The cultivar 'Hummelo' was selected as the 2019 Perennial Plant of the Year® by the Perennial Plant Association. Mass plant them or use them in the front of a border or let them naturalize in a meadow setting. They are often used as an edging plant, but they grow well in containers or near hardscapes like patios, walkways or poolside plantings. Its diminutive size makes it ideal for small spaces, cottage gardens or rock gardens. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Snails and slugs may damage the plant.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheBuddleja Lo & Behold® 'Pink Micro Chip'Salvia 'Amistad'x Heucherella
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect; Mounding; Spreading
Texture
Coarse
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Opposite
Leaf shape
Oblong; Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Rough
Leaf value
Edible
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Long stemmed Basel leaves grow on the lower portion of the plant. Stemless upper leaves
Flower color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The purple red flowers are two lipped and three lobed with the center lobe being the largest. The spikes appear in whorls along the stem. There are also 2 short stamens and 2 long stamens they bloom all summer and into fall.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Fruit detail
The shiny fruits have slight bristles. It grows as a schizocarp, a dry fruit that splits into single seeded parts when it ripens.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
The erect stems are soft and hairy.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe, northwestern Africa, Caucasus, and Siberia
Wildlife value
The nectar and pollen rich flowers are visited by bees, butteflies, and other pollinators.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Attracts Pollinators; Buffer; Colorful; Easy to Grow
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves; Flowers
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Edibility
Its leaves and flowering tops are used in making tea.
Uses (ethnobotany)
A medicinal plant that was in use in ancient Egypt.