Stachys 'Hummelo'

Stachys 'Hummelo': Glossy Leaves Topped With Rosy-Purple Wands

'Hummelo' looks like it got its leaves professionally ironed, then decided crinkled was the look after all. Rosy purple spikes march up all summer like a parade of tiny batons. THE BEES ARE HUMMING ALONG.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Stachys monieri 'Hummelo' (also listed under Stachys officinalis)
• Common Name: Betony
• Height: 45–60 cm (1.5–2 ft) in flower, with foliage about 30 cm (1 ft)
• Spread: 45–60 cm (1.5–2 ft)
• Flowers: Dense, upright spikes of rosy purple to lavender
• Bloom Time: Early to late summer (June to August)
• Foliage: Glossy, crinkled, dark green leaves in tidy basal rosettes
• Features: Perennial Plant of the Year 2019

Where to Plant: Use it at the front or middle of a sunny border, in mass plantings or as a long edging. It shines in naturalistic, meadow-style plantings, where its upright spikes add rhythm.

Companion Plants: Rudbeckia 'Indian Summer' rises to 80 to 90 cm with big yellow daisies from July to October, a warm contrast with the purple spikes. Echinacea 'Magnus Superior' adds pink coneflowers at 90 to 100 cm from July to September. Along the front, Geranium 'Biokovo' makes a 15 to 25 cm mound with white flowers from May to July. Each one grows well in full sun or partial sun.

Plant Care: Plant it in full sun for the most flowers, though it accepts part sun. Average, well-drained soil is fine, including clay that doesn't stay soggy. Water through the first season, then during long dry spells. Remove faded spikes to keep new ones coming. Once flowering ends, you can cut it back to tidy the clump. Divide in early spring every few years if it gets crowded.

History: 'Hummelo' was selected and named in the 1990s by German perennial grower Ernst Pagels, after the Dutch village where designer Piet Oudolf made his famous garden. It earned the top rating in a long Chicago Botanic Garden trial and was the Perennial Plant Association's 2019 Perennial Plant of the Year.

Final Thoughts: Tidy, deer resistant and happy once it settles in. Plant a drift and watch the butterflies keep time. STRIKE UP THE BAND.