This document provides information about California Hedgenettle/Wood Mint (Stachys bullata), a perennial plant native to coastal California. It spreads via rhizomes, has dark green fuzzy leaves and pink to lavender flowers from March to May. It grows 1-4 feet tall and 2-5 feet wide in part shade to full sun. It requires well-drained soil and occasional to moderate water. California Hedgenettle is easy to grow, spreads but not aggressively, and makes an excellent groundcover, cut flower, or habitat for hummingbirds and butterflies.

1. California Hedgenettle/Wood Mint – Stachys bullata (STAY-kis bull-AY-ta)
Family: Laminaceae (Mint Family)
Native to: Coastal CA from San Francisco to Orange Co.; dryish slopes (near coast) and partially-
shaded canyons in chaparral and coastal sage scrub, coast live oak riparian forest & woodland,
sycamore riparian woodland.
Growth characteristics: spreading perennial mature height: 1-4 ft. mature width: 2-5 ft.
Dark green, fuzzy leaves are triangular to oval, toothed. Stem square (typical of Mints) and hairy.
Plants mildly to strongly scented – minty with lemon. Spreads by rhizomes.
Blooms/fruits: Flowers are small, pink to lavender-red, with white markings on the lower lips (look
like a mint flower; in whorls around stem). Blooms Mar-May or later. Very pretty bloomer.
Uses in the garden: Most shady areas of garden. Cultivated beds or for a fragrance garden (pleasant
lemon scent when rubbed). Excellent cut flowers. Use in woodland or perennial gardens. Spreads,
so is useful groundcover for north- and east-facing slopes, under trees and near shaded rock walls.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native mints, low herbaceous groundcovers.
Attracts: Excellent hummingbird, bee, butterfly habitat plant; other birds eat seeds.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Part-shade; full sun only on immediate coast
Soil Any well-drained soil; any local pH
Water does better with occasional to moderate water, and tolerates seasonal flooding
Fertilizer Organic mulches useful
Other
Management: Easy to grow. Does spread, but not aggressively; remove unwanted stems. Cut
back nearly to the ground in late fall or early winter.
Propagation: from seed: yes in fall/winter by cuttings: easy (treat like other mints)
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1-3, 7, 8, 11,12, 14, 20, 32 11/3/14
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