Stachys stricta
Sonoma hedge nettle
no rights reserved, uploaded by Joshua Zupan · CC0
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Stachys stricta (Sonoma hedge nettle) is a native California herb in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by white flowers and specific range.
Sonoma hedge nettle is a California native perennial found in central Coast Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada Foothills, and adjacent Great Valley in moist, open or shady places at elevations below 600 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces white flowers in clusters of 8 to 12 blooms with an oblique corolla and delicate ring of hairs. Growing with erect, branched stems 30 to 80 centimeters tall and covered in soft to stiff hairs, it has a glandular texture throughout. Its leaves are oblong to widely lanceolate, 5 to 15 centimeters long with a heart-shaped or nearly truncate base, featuring small glands especially on the undersides and gently crenate edges. The flowers have a soft-hairy calyx tube 4 to 5 millimeters long, with an upper lip less than 2 millimeters and a lower lip 3.5 to 7 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated with no sympatric species; white flowers and specific range
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist, open or shady places
Elevation: < 600 m
Bloom period
Stachys stricta 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 stricta native to California?
Yes. Stachys stricta is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Stachys stricta bloom?
Stachys stricta blooms Jun-Oct.
What plant family does Stachys stricta belong to?
Stachys stricta is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Stachys.
What habitat does Stachys stricta grow in?
Stachys stricta grows in Moist, open or shady places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Stachys ajugoides — Ajuga hedge nettle
- Stachys albens — Cobwebby hedge nettle
- Stachys bergii — Berg's hedgenettle
- Stachys bullata — California hedge nettle
- Stachys chamissonis — Coast hedge nettle
- Stachys mexicana — Mexican hedgenettle
- Teucrium cubense subsp. depressum — Dwarf germander
- Teucrium glandulosum — Desert germander
- Teucrium sp.
- Trichostema austromontanum — San jacinto bluecurls
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.