# Hedgenettles (*Stachys*)

Hedgenettles are lovely plants that grow in gardens and fields. They have soft, fuzzy leaves and pretty flowers that attract butterflies and bees.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Hedgenettles](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Stachys_monnieri0.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Kurt Stüber \[1\], CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stachys_monnieri0.jpg)

## Appearance

The Hedgenettles has often fuzzy, dark green leaves with a unique square stem. Its small, tubular flowers, often purple, pink, or white, grow in whorls around the stem, making it distinct from stinging nettles.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Lamiales
- **Family:** Lamiaceae
- **Genus:** Stachys

## Interesting facts

- Ancient people used parts of this plant to help heal small cuts and scrapes!
- Did you know some Hedgenettles smell minty when you gently crush their leaves?
- Its scientific name, Stachys, means 'ear of corn,' referring to its flower spikes!
- Some kinds of Hedgenettles can grow fuzzy leaves softer than a lamb's ear!

## Special abilities

- **Square Power Stems:** Hedgenettles has square stems that help it stand strong and upright, even in windy weather, giving it extra stability.
- **Soft Shield Leaves:** Hedgenettles has soft, fuzzy leaves that protect it from too much sun and help save precious water in dry conditions.
- **Friendly Imposter:** Hedgenettles has leaves that look like stinging nettles but have no sting, letting animals brush past without harm.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-100 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits flowers for nectar and pollen
- **Eaten by:** [European water vole](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-water-vole) (*Arvicola terrestris*) — eats its roots and tender shoots
- **Shelter:** [Ground beetle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ground-beetle) (*Carabus nemoralis*) — hides beneath its wide leaves

## Traits

- [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.
- [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.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [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 check with an adult before touching or tasting any plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Hedgenettles?

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 Hedgenettles?

30-100 cm

### How wide does Hedgenettles spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Hedgenettles?

1-2 cm

### When does Hedgenettles bloom?

Summer

### Is Hedgenettles edible?

Yes

### Is Hedgenettles toxic?

None

### What is Hedgenettles's lifecycle?

Perennial

## 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*)

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Source: [Hedgenettles: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hedgenettles)