Join / Renew / Gift Donate Shop Member Portal Language
Search
npsot_bluebonnet_full_color

Native Plant Society of Texas

Boerne Chapter

May 2005

NICE! Plant of the Month

(Stachys coccinea)

Stand of red blooms in a bed, people walking by in background.
Image courtesy of Texas Native Shrubs, a collection of original photographs taken by Mr. Benny Simpson, Texas naturalist and plantsman extraordinaire, and long time researcher at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in Dallas.

Description:
Texas Betony, is a flowering and evergreen perennial, 12 to 18 inches tall or more. It naturally grows in moist crevices of the mountains of West Texas, west to Arizona, and northern Mexico. It produces red or pink tubular flowers and has a long bloom season, from spring until fall. The grey-green leaves are opposite, fuzzy, toothed, triangular, and up to 3 inches long. Texas Betony is a favorite nectar plant for hummingbirds, honeybees and the Pipevine Swallowtail butterflies.

Deer Resistance:
Deer resistant due to the very pungent leaves.

Planting Sites:
Texas Betony prefers well-drained soil and partial shade. It is very drought tolerant after established. It is an excellent border plant for the shade. Propagate by division, cuttings or seeds. Do not plant too close to the edge of the flower bed or the flowers will spill over into the yard.

Planting Instructions:
Dig a hole at least two times wider than, but the same depth as the root ball in the nursery container. Remove plant from container, taking care to support the root ball. Gently loosen exterior roots gently with fingers. Plant at the same depth as the soil in the container. Backfill using soil that was dug from the hole. Add 3-4 inches of mulch. Space plants 12″ apart.

Watering Instructions:
Moderate water use. Give extra water if placed in full sun. After planting, water deeply in order to settle soil around roots. Water deeply the first two weeks and then every 7-10 days, as needed, during the first growing season. Check moisture an inch or two into soil at the edge of the root ball to determine soil moisture. Skip a watering after a rainfall of ½ to 1 inch. Maintain this watering schedule until the first fall. Reduce watering during fall and winter. In a “normal” year, no watering may be necessary during fall and winter, but during a dry period, monthly watering may be needed. From the second spring and throughout the second summer, water monthly only in periods of drought. Watering should be unnecessary after the plant is thoroughly established.

NICE! Tip:
Texas Betony can be used in flower pots or as a ground cover. Foliage hardy to 32°F (0°C). Remove spent blooms or allow to mature and start new plants. Plant Texas Betony instead of Vinca minor or Liriope.

Look for the NICE! Plant of the Month signs and information sheets on your next visit to a participating Boerne nursery. And thank you for supporting native plants by using them in your landscapes.

Receive the latest native plant news

Subscribe To Our News

Subscribe to emails from the Native Plant Society of Texas.

Receive emails when new posts are added 4-6 times per month, or receive an email once a month.

Subscribe

Or join us on social media

Facebook Youtube Instagram Camera

About the Region

New Braunfels, the location of our Fall 2024 Symposium, straddles both the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion and the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Interstate 35 divides the city of New Braunfels; its path through the city closely parallels the boundary of these two ecoregions, with the Edwards Plateau on the west side and the Blackland Prairies region to the east. The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason