Re: stachys macrantha

Stachys macrantha is hardy in zone 3.  My friend has been growing it in Willow Alaska for 4 years now.  My patch is 3 years old.  It commands a lot of notice at the garden show we have annually at his place.  He used more manure and bonemeal when he planted his and the results are fabulous magenta blooms.  I planted mine in a warm dry spot, the blooms are not as plentiful.  I'm considering moving them to a different spot with more food and moisture available.  We jokingly refer to them as 'lambs noses' as the stacys byzantine is reffered to as 'lambs ears'.  Macrantha has a wrinkled green leaf, but is not the stachys we call 'big betony'.  Easy to grow from seed, don't expect blossoms until the second season.  Very desirable plant, only 16"-18" tall in our climate.  Everybody wants it when they see it in bloom.  Order some seeds now, I see them in lots of catalogs this year.
 
Karin Covey
Zone 3
Wasilla, Alaska
 
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