Stachys is an old Greek word for a spike or ear of corn, and the plants named stachys, some of them at least, have a flower head stacked like an ear of corn. The best-known kind of stachys is lamb’s ear, which is widely grown in gardens for its white-silver leaves and stems.

Lamb’s ear, Stachys byzantina, used to be called Stachys lanata, the second part of the name meaning woolly, which was very appropriate. The new name, ‘byzantina’, refers to its origins in the Near East, from the Caucasus to Iran.

This plant came originally from rocky places and its woolly coating of white hairs protects the leaves and stems from too much hot sunshine and desiccating winds.

It has a low ground-hugging growth habit, which is typical of mountain plants that have to stand up to a lot wind. Knowing the habitat that it is adapted for, it is obvious that it is completely at home in well-drained soil on a rockery or a bank, or tucked in at a path edge that might get dry in warm weather.

It only fails when planted in ground with too much moisture – the stems rotting at ground level. It has no pest problems because the hairy coat is also a good defence.

The flower spikes appear in mid-summer, the wool-covered stems dotted with small pale-purple flowers, relatively tall compared to the low rosettes of silvery leaves. Lots of flower spikes are produced and combine to good effect.

Even in winter, the effect of the silvery leaves is very useful and a fine backdrop in summer for pink, yellow, blue or white flowers, or for dark flowers. If it is really happy in a garden, especially on gravel, it will even self-sow, and seedlings find interesting spots.

Less well known, but deserving of much greater use, are Stachys monierii and Stachys macrantha. Both of these have similar growth habits and flowering. The flowers are the typical small narrow tubular flowers of the dead-nettle family, to which all stachys species belong.

Unlike the flower spikes of lamb’s ear, which carry whorls of flowers and small leaves in the flower spike, the flower spikes of these other stachys are much more like the ear-of-corn shape that gave them their botanical name.

These plants show much more colour in flower than the lamb’s ear that is mainly grown for its foliage.

The little tubular flowers are held more closely, and there are no leaves getting in the way. The result is a much better show of colour.

Stachys macrantha flowers from early summer to early autumn, with somewhat looser flower spikes of bright blue-purple than Stachys monieri, which flowers in summer to late August. The variety ‘Hummelo’ is the most widely grown of this species and it really is eye-catching. It associates very well with grasses and, with the widespread use of grasses, it has become better known. There is a lovely pale pink form, ‘Roseum’, which mixes well with the purple sort.

All kinds of stachys have flower spikes held bolt-upright, including these, which have rigid stems that carry the dense flower spike.

The rigidity of the flower stems makes a fine contrast with plants of more flowing shape, such as coreopsis, geraniums and limonium, and many of the smaller grasses and sedges, such as the foxtail grass and the feather grass.

These stachys are not tall, about 60cm, and grow best in well-drained soil in sunshine but can tolerate shade for part of the day very well. There are some native stachys species, such as hedge woundwort, but these are not as ornamental, as their flower spikes are not as dense or colourful.CL

Harvesting garlic

Garlic planted in autumn begins to wither in mid-summer and is ready for lifting when the foliage turns yellow and flops over to one side. Loosen the bulbs in the ground with a digging fork, so they lift easily without breaking the stems, as the tops can be useful for tying a bunch together or for plaiting.

If there are any bolted bulbs, gone to flower, these can be used now. Otherwise, lift the bulbs and shake the soil off the roots. Let them lie on the soil surface for a week, unless it is very wet, before moving them into a greenhouse or covered area to dry. They can then be tied in bunches or plaited and, kept dry and cool, will last into spring.

Fruit, vegetables and herbs

Make some late sowings of lettuce and radishes. Sweet corn is growing well after a great start. The early potato varieties will generally be used up before potato blight harms the tubers. Remove blighted tops. If the soil is dry, most vegetables should be watered to keep them growing.

Flowers

Remove weeds in flower borders before the seeds are shed. Even if these borders were cleaned earlier, there are always a few weeds that survive, often in the middle of a clump of another plant. Pull these out now, as most kinds are in flower and on the verge of setting seeds.

Lawn

Although grass has generally grown well, in some areas of sandy soil, lawns have dried out a bit. Lift the mower blades one notch to reduce stress on the lawn grasses. When rain falls in good amounts, be ready to apply some lawn fertiliser if the lawn is tired and needs a boost.

Trees, shrubs and roses

Young trees and shrubs have generally done very well, but any that are slow to grow should get a heavy soaking. It is time to clip hedges of all kinds before the wood gets tough. Rambler roses should be pruned as the flowers fade, removing the shoots that have just flowered.

Greenhouse and house plants

It is too late to spray a grapevine for mildew to keep the fungus off the grapes – apply a rose fungicide earlier next year at the first signs. Water and feed greenhouse plants. Be especially careful to water tomato plants in grow-bags regularly. These can easily dry out and cause blossom-end rot.