Stachys 'Hummelo Summer Romance' is a bold upright perennial featuring dense spikes of vivid magenta pink flowers that rise above clumps of textured dark green foliage. Unlike traditional lamb’s ears, this cultivar has a more refined clumping habit and thrives as a vertical accent in sunny borders. Its long bloom time and resistance to drought and pests make it an outstanding low maintenance selection for pollinator friendly landscapes.
Height & Spread: 18 - 24 in x 15 - 18 in
Bloom Time: Early to late summer
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Preference: Well drained, average to dry soils
Watering Needs: Low to moderate once established
Deer Resistance: Avoided by deer and rabbits due to aromatic foliage
Native Status
Stachys 'Hummelo Summer Romance' is a cultivated selection derived from Stachys officinalis, native to Europe and Western Asia. While not native to North America, it performs reliably in temperate garden conditions and supports pollinator species.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Bees
- Highly attractive to honeybees and native bees including bumblebees and sweat bees which forage along the flower spikes all summer.
Butterflies
- Draws in a variety of butterflies such as Painted Ladies, Eastern Tailed Blues, and skippers who nectar from the colorful blooms.
Beneficial Insects
- Encourages populations of parasitic wasps and syrphid flies that assist in pest control by targeting aphids and other soft bodied insects.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Plant 15 - 18 in apart to allow for upright growth while creating a dense flowering display.
Landscape Placement:
- Ideal for sunny borders, cottage gardens, pollinator strips, and in mass plantings where vertical color is needed throughout summer.
Companion Plants
- Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam' - Soft yellow daisy flowers provide a cool balance and lighten the planting scheme.
- Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote' - Aromatic foliage and purple blooms complement the structure and fragrance of the Stachys.
- Nepeta faassenii 'Walker’s Low' - Mounding habit and extended bloom period offer excellent base color and pollinator support.
- Achillea millefolium 'Paprika' - Bold red flat topped flowers contrast in form and echo the saturated summer palette.
- Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' - Tall purple spires blend harmoniously with the magenta flowers of Stachys while sharing similar bloom time and pollinator value.