Wildflower/Perennial · Sonoran native
Texas Betony
Stachys coccinea · Lamiaceae
Also called: Scarlet Hedgenettle, Scarlet Betony, Scarlet Hedge-nettle, Scarlet Sage, Mountain Red Betony, Texas Betony Sage
Texas Betony (Stachys coccinea) is a low-water wildflower/perennial native to the Sonoran Desert region well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It's a moderate to fast-growing wildflower/perennial.
Texas Betony at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Part shade to filtered sun in Tucson (tolerates more sun with regular water; benefits from afternoon shade in the low desert)
- Mature size
- 12-24 in H x 18-24 in W (spreading by rhizomes into larger clumps)
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast
- Bloom
- Vivid scarlet-red (occasionally coral), tubular two-lipped flowers in whorls on upright spikes, Nearly year-round in mild conditions; heaviest in spring, continuing through summer and fall with moisture
- Cold hardiness
- Hardy to about 0-10 F (USDA zones 7-10); herbaceous, dies back in hard frost and resprouts from rhizomes in spring.
- Soil
- Well-drained sandy, loamy, or rocky soils enriched with some organic matter; appreciates a bit more soil moisture and richness than most desert natives.
- Native range
- Native to southern Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico; in Arizona it grows in moist, shaded canyon crevices, seeps, rocky slopes, and along streams in the mountains and foothills (often 3,000-7,000 ft).
- Best used as
- Shade/part-shade perennial garden, Hummingbird garden, Groundcover/naturalized cover for shady areas, Container plant, Border and accent under trees or on north/east exposures
- Wildlife
- A magnet for hummingbirds; also attracts butterflies and native bees. Good nectar plant for shaded garden spots.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic; no significant toxicity reported for humans or pets.
How to grow Texas Betony in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Drought tolerant once established but performs best with regular, moderate water—roughly weekly in summer heat, especially when grown in sun. Mulch to retain moisture; reduce watering in winter.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Light feeder; a spring application of compost or balanced fertilizer supports lush growth and bloom. Avoid overfertilizing.
Pruning & care
Shear or cut back after flushes of bloom to promote dense, continuous flowering; remove frost-damaged or leggy stems in late winter. Divide crowded clumps as needed.
Notes
An excellent, long-blooming small perennial for the shadier, better-watered niches of a Tucson landscape (a 'mini' garden plant for under trees and on cooler exposures). Spreads gently by rhizomes to form an informal groundcover. The 'Mountain Red' selection, from ~7,000 ft in eastern Arizona, is the most cold-hardy form.
Sources: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; Native Plant Society of New Mexico