Betonica officinalis

Betonica officinalis (recently changed from Stachys officinalis) is a British native perennial wildflower, with delightful purple-red blooms and fresh green, toothed foliage. It's typically found in grasslands and hedgerows, but does well in gardens. It's most commonly known as betony, but it's other common names include: common hedgenettle, purple betony, wood betony, bishopwort, or bishop's wort. Like other members of the dead nettle (Lamiaceae) family, betony can be identified by its square stems and lipped flowers, which are a magnet for bees and other pollinators.

Traditionally, betony was thought to have significant healing properties, and was used to aid digestion and circulation, as well as help to calm the central nervous system and alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. All parts of the betony plant are edible and can be used fresh or dried to make a slightly spicy, aromatic tea, which is said to warm and soothe the body – in short, a cup of wood betony tea will make you feel better, and was once used as a catch-all herbal medicine regardless of the symptoms. Betony is also thought to aid concentration, and was even planted in churchyards to ward against ghosts.

Today, betony makes an excellent bee-friendly wildflower for a native wildflower border or meadow area. Its flowers are particularly favoured by the solitary wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum), which sometimes nests in bee hotels.