Stachys rigida var. quercetorum
Rough hedgenettle
(c) Alan Rockefeller, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alan Rockefeller · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Stachys rigida var. quercetorum (Rough hedgenettle) is a native California herb in the Lamiaceae family.
Rough hedgenettle is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, the Great Valley (rare), central western, and southwestern regions in moist to somewhat dry places at elevations below 2,500 meters. Flowering from March to October, this plant produces flowers with spreading corollas and lower lips that are distinctively reflexed. Growing with upright stems, it develops distinctive ovate leaves with heart-shaped bases and prominent crenate margins. Its leaves are glabrous to soft-hairy, with blades featuring acute to obtuse tips that range from smooth to softly textured. The plant's unique calyx lobes typically become reflexed with age, giving it a characteristic appearance in its native habitats.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist to +- dry places
Elevation: < 2500 m
California counties: Contra Costa, Kern, San Diego, Orange, Humboldt, Riverside, Santa Cruz, Mendocino, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Sonoma, Los Angeles, Marin, Ventura, Alameda, Napa, Lake, Solano
Outside California: to Oregon, Baja California
Bloom period
Stachys rigida var. quercetorum blooms Mar-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 rigida var. quercetorum native to California?
Yes. Stachys rigida var. quercetorum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Stachys rigida var. quercetorum bloom?
Stachys rigida var. quercetorum blooms Mar-Oct.
Where in California does Stachys rigida var. quercetorum grow?
Stachys rigida var. quercetorum occurs in Contra Costa, Kern, San Diego, Orange, Humboldt, Riverside, Santa Cruz, Mendocino and other counties, at elevations of < 2500 m.
What plant family does Stachys rigida var. quercetorum belong to?
Stachys rigida var. quercetorum is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Stachys.
What habitat does Stachys rigida var. quercetorum grow in?
Stachys rigida var. quercetorum grows in Moist to +- dry places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.