Stachys rigida
Rough hedgenettle
(c) Alan Rockefeller, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alan Rockefeller · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Stachys rigida (Rough hedgenettle) is a native California herb in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Rough hedgenettle is a California native perennial found in grasslands and oak woodlands with varied elevations. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces soft pink flowers in compact clusters of 6 to 10 blossoms with a distinctive oblique ring of hairs. Growing 60 to 100 centimeters tall with stems that are generally erect to slightly decumbent and either nearly smooth or softly hairy. Its leaves are 5 to 9 centimeters long, ovate to lanceolate in shape, with rounded to heart-shaped bases and pointed tips. The delicate pink flowers emerge from clustered whorls, creating a subtle but charming display in California's native landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
California counties: Lake, Riverside, Plumas, San Luis Obispo, Orange, San Diego, El Dorado, Marin, Napa, Colusa, Nevada, Glenn, Siskiyou, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Solano, San Mateo, Lassen, Trinity, Shasta, Humboldt, Sonoma, Ventura, Del Norte, Mendocino, Tehama, Santa Cruz, Alameda, Placer, Sierra, Los Angeles, Alpine, Santa Clara, Butte, Contra Costa, Modoc, Yuba
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 rigida native to California?
Yes. Stachys rigida is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Stachys rigida grow?
Stachys rigida occurs in Lake, Riverside, Plumas, San Luis Obispo, Orange, San Diego, El Dorado, Marin and other counties.
What plant family does Stachys rigida belong to?
Stachys rigida is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Stachys.
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.