# California Hedge Nettle (*Stachys bullata*) California Hedge Nettle is a lovely plant with soft leaves and pretty purple flowers. It grows in sunny places and is great for attracting butterflies and bees! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![California Hedge Nettle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Stachysbullata1.jpg&width=800) Photo: tomhilton, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stachysbullata1.jpg) ## Appearance The California Hedge Nettle has distinctive square stems and wrinkled, heart-shaped leaves, giving it a bumpy texture. Its hooded, two-lipped flowers range from pinkish-purple to magenta, blooming in clusters along the stem. It stands out with its slightly fuzzy appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Lamiaceae - **Genus:** Stachys ## Interesting facts - It grows wild only in coastal California, making it a very special local plant! - Its square stems are a secret clue it belongs to the mint family, even without a minty smell! - The leaves have a bubbly, crinkly texture, almost like a tiny quilted blanket! - This plant was a traditional remedy for bee stings and sore throats for some native groups. ## Special abilities - **Hairy Armor:** California Hedge Nettle has tiny hairs on its stems and leaves that help protect it from hungry insects and reduce water loss on sunny days. - **Spreading Roots:** California Hedge Nettle can grow underground runners called rhizomes, helping it spread and form new patches of plants in its preferred habitat. - **Scented Shield:** California Hedge Nettle produces aromatic oils that help deter certain pests and grazing animals from munching on its leaves. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-100 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits flowers for nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** Yellow-faced bumblebee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — efficiently pollinates its hooded flowers - **Eaten by:** [Mule deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — sometimes browses its leaves and stems ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify California Hedge Nettle? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is California Hedge Nettle? 30-100 cm ### How wide does California Hedge Nettle spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on California Hedge Nettle? 1-2.5 cm ### When does California Hedge Nettle bloom? Spring to early summer ### Is California Hedge Nettle edible? Yes ### Is California Hedge Nettle toxic? None ### What is California Hedge Nettle's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Gaviota State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gaviota-state-park) — California, US · State Park - [Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chumash-painted-cave-state-historic-park) — California, US · State Park ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [California Hedge Nettle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-hedge-nettle)