Stachys rigida var. rigida
Rough hedgenettle
(c) Alan Rockefeller, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alan Rockefeller · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Stachys rigida var. rigida (Rough hedgenettle) is a native California herb in the Lamiaceae family.
Rough hedgenettle is a California native perennial found in central California in moist to somewhat dry places at elevations below 2,500 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces small soft-textured flowers with subtle coloration. Growing with upright stems 30 to 60 centimeters tall, it forms dense clustered stands. Its soft-hairy leaves are lanceolate to oblong, with rounded bases and acute to obtuse tips, featuring delicate minutely serrate margins. The plant's distinctive soft texture and graceful leaf shape make it a subtle but charming component of California's grassland and woodland understory.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist to +- dry places
Elevation: < 2500 m
California counties: Colusa, Glenn, Riverside, San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, Trinity, Mendocino, Tehama, El Dorado, Orange, Nevada, Santa Clara, Modoc, Plumas, Humboldt, Siskiyou, Del Norte, Shasta, Lake, Solano, Monterey, Ventura, Butte, Placer, Contra Costa, Amador, Marin, Sierra, San Mateo, Sacramento, Sonoma, Napa, San Bernardino
Outside California: to Washington
Bloom period
Stachys rigida var. rigida blooms Jul-Aug.
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. rigida native to California?
Yes. Stachys rigida var. rigida is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Stachys rigida var. rigida bloom?
Stachys rigida var. rigida blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Stachys rigida var. rigida grow?
Stachys rigida var. rigida occurs in Colusa, Glenn, Riverside, San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, Trinity, Mendocino and other counties, at elevations of < 2500 m.
What plant family does Stachys rigida var. rigida belong to?
Stachys rigida var. rigida is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Stachys.
What habitat does Stachys rigida var. rigida grow in?
Stachys rigida var. rigida 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 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.