Betony tea is bland, but the tannins in it are good for diarrhea. Nor will you waste your time gargling a betony infusion for a sore throat. The herb also contains some chemicals that may help headaches.

Another member of the mint family, betony (or bishop’s wort) is a 2-foot-tall (30 cm) European perennial (click here for more on perennials). In late spring or early summer, it erupts into spikes of small neon violet, tubular blossoms that continue opening until early fall.

Scalloped and hairy along the edges, the leaves are textured with veins, wrinkles, and oil glands. The lower leaves are roughly heart-shaped, while those near the top are narrow ovals without any stalks.

Hardy in Zones 4 through 9, betony likes its soil deep, rich, and moist but well draining. If its feet get wet in winter, it turns up its toes and dies. Happy plants spread to form handsome mats that you need to divide every two or three years.

Betony prefers full sun but can take some shade, especially in the South. You can start the species from seed or by division. Plant them at least a foot apart.

Click here to find out what Zone you are in.