Stachys pycnantha
Short-spiked hedge nettle
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Stachys pycnantha (Short-spiked hedge nettle) is a native California herb in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by short continuous flower spikes and strong aroma.
Short-spiked hedge nettle is a California native perennial found in northwestern, central western, and Sierra Nevada regions in streambanks, springs, and pine/oak forests at elevations below 1,100 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces white to pink flowers in dense clusters of 8 to 12 blossoms. Growing with decumbent to erect stems 30 to 100 centimeters tall that are soft to stiffly hairy and glandular, it has multiple branches and a strongly aromatic character. Its leaves are ovate to lanceolate, 5 to 12 centimeters long, with crenate to serrate edges and a rounded to heart-shaped base, covered in soft to stiff hairs and glandular surfaces. The flower's white to pink corolla features an oblique upper lip 3 to 4 millimeters long and a lower lip 5 to 7 millimeters long, with a distinctive ring of hairs above the base of the tube.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 10 species; distinguished by short continuous flower spikes and strong aroma
Habitat and range
Habitat: Streambanks, springs, pine/oak forest
Elevation: < 1100 m
California counties: Butte, Santa Clara, Sierra, San Luis Obispo, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Alameda, San Benito, Colusa, Contra Costa, Plumas, Santa Cruz, Solano, Tehama, Sonoma, Trinity, Fresno, Riverside, San Diego, Siskiyou, Mendocino, Ventura
Bloom period
Stachys pycnantha blooms Jun-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Salvia: Stachys has four stamens; Salvia has only two stamens visible in the flower.; vs Lepechinia: Stachys flowers are in separated whorls; Lepechinia has continuous branched clusters.; vs Verbascum: Stachys has square stems and opposite leaves; Verbascum has round stems and alternate leaves.; vs Melissa: Stachys upper flowers have small bracts; Melissa has full-sized leaves beneath all flower clusters.; vs Lamium: Stachys is upright with flowers in separated whorls; Lamium sprawls with flowers clustered at leaf joints.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stachys pycnantha native to California?
Yes. Stachys pycnantha is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Stachys pycnantha bloom?
Stachys pycnantha blooms Jun-Oct.
Where in California does Stachys pycnantha grow?
Stachys pycnantha occurs in Butte, Santa Clara, Sierra, San Luis Obispo, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Monterey and other counties, at elevations of < 1100 m.
What plant family does Stachys pycnantha belong to?
Stachys pycnantha is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Stachys.
What habitat does Stachys pycnantha grow in?
Stachys pycnantha grows in Streambanks, springs, pine/oak forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.