Betony: Hardy 'Cinderella' beautifies its surroundings

Many ornamentals that earn the epithet “thug” are called that with malice. Not so Betony. The two or three plants I got from Lois Wythe over 20 years ago have burgeoned into a whole yard-full of beauty — probably a hundred plants — each beginning with a rosette of softly toothed oval bright green leaves that shape attractively into a mini-bush showcasing a bouquet of pretty long-lasting bright purple-pink blooms. The creeping roots form a dense carpet when multiple plants are grouped together, especially in full sun.

Much more attractive than its cousin “Lamb’s Ears” — which, though endearingly fuzzy — takes backstage to Stachys officinalis, Betony can be the answer to those like me who want something to thrive and multiply throughout the landscape — even in poor soil. If you haven’t time for a lot of planting and maintenance, but want a plethora of flowers, Betony’s your answer. It asks for nothing — no fertilizer, pruning or special watering — and gives lavish beauty and even health benefits in return.

Since I received my now-grand spread of Betony from Lois Wythe, it’s only fitting that I honor her with her own words in “Lines from Lois” written in the winter of 1993 from the Unicorn Farm in “The Peaceable Kingdom.” Her seasonal newsy booklets were avidly awaited by many area gardeners and friends of the legendary gardener/herbalist. This little essay was entitled simply “Betony.”

“Feeling depressed? Have a tummy ache, asthma, bronchitis? Sprained something or other? Sore throat, headache, anxiety attacks? The Romans reported 47 uses including getting rid of evil spirits. Seventeenth Century herbalists listed 30 uses. Contemporary English herbalists like John Lust list many uses, and Leslie Bremmes says these include a yellow dye and a hair rinse which can highlight golden tones in grey hair — plus it is great in smoking mixtures and snuff, good for poultices and diarrhea. Dr. Varro Tyler of Purdue University says ‘Pooh!’ to all these uses, but even he admits it can help sore throats and diarrhea and is an excellent astringent.

“Betony is a favorite of mine principally for its beauty as a flowering plant and its use in teas (similar to black tea), although I never forget that if I need to get rid of evil spirits in the house, Betony is the weapon. (I) Put it in my magic garden, too.

“Beautiful Betony has a tall stem growing out of a neat and tidy mound of lovely green, hairy and toothy leaves, and bears flowers on what the herbalists call an ‘interrupted spike’ — a long spike of flowers (mine are purple), then a short section of stem, then a little collar of flowers, leaves and repeat.

“It is a hardy perennial which does very well in our zone 4-5. Takes sun or partial shade. You can start seeds, but like most perennials, it’s slow and you’ll have better luck with a plant. It will happily allow you to divide it in the spring to expand your garden or pleasure a friend. Try it; you’ll like it!

“ ‘You’ll wakeup on a winter day and peer outside’, says Rodale’s encyclopedia. ‘Inches of powder cover the ground … a good day to snuggle up with a good book and a cup of hot tea. Set the kettle on the burner, take down your teacup and a jar of dried betony leaves. Crumble them into your diffuser, wait for the water to boil and sigh contentedly. Betony has great virtue. This tea is going to be GOOD!’

“So be it.”

Lois is lost to us but doubtless beautifying Heaven’s gardens with her sure and loving touch. Her friendship is manifested on my property in huge old rosebushes, lots of Columbine (Aquilegia), Lady’s Mantle, Ground Ivy (Alehoof), the Betony, of course — and many more treasures. Though I’d love to make Betony tea, I have one very strange affliction: I cannot bear to pick my lovely living flowers, though I love bouquets in the house. In my cooking columns I tout edible flowers but I can’t bring myself to pick violets or nasturtiums for salad — though I do use the leaves. In the spring, I walk out on my ground covered with wild violets and/or Johnny Jump-ups and must kneel down to sniff them because I can’t end their exquisite, fragrant lives for my own pleasure. Am I weird or what? However, there is hope for me, since it’s the betony’s leaf that’s needed for the tea and I can manage to pick a few of the hundreds available.

Meanwhile, if any of you — my readers — would like a Betony plant, please call me at 208-265-4688 (8 a.m.-8 p.m.) — no charge of course; maybe an exchange of garden tips? Leave a message if I’m not home.

Valle Novak writes the Country Chef and Weekend Gardener columns for the Daily Bee. She can be reached at bcdailybee@bonnercountydailybee.com or by phone at 208-265-4688.