Stachys coccinea, Scarlet Hedgenettle
Scientific Name: Stachys coccinea
Common Name: Scarlet Hedgenettle
Also Called: Betony, Scarlet Betony, Scarlet Hedge-nettle, Texas Betony (Spanish: Mirto)
Family: Lamiaceae or Mint Family
Synonyms: (Stachys cardinalis, Stachys limitanea, Stachys oaxacana)
Status: Native
Duration: Perennial
Size: Up to 3 feet.
Growth Form: Forb/herb; stems square,
Leaves: Green, dark green; herbage covered with soft pubescence
Flower Color: Red; bright red, flowers attractive, corolla tubular, flowers in whorls, fruit a nutlet.
Flowering Season: March to October.
Elevation: 1,500 to 8,000 feet.
Habitat Preferences: Rich soils, canyons and slopes.
Recorded Range: Stachys coccinea is relatively rare in the United States where it is native to Arizona, New Mexico and marginally Texas. In Arizona it is found in the northeast, central and southern parts of the state (Apache, Cochise, Gila, Graham, Maricopa, Pima, Santa Cruz and Yavapai Counties). In New Mexico it is found in the northwest (San Juan County) and southwest parts of the state (Grant, Sierra, Hildago and Luna Counties). It is also native to Baja California, northern Mexico south to Nicaragua.
North America & Counties Distribution Map for Stachys coccinea.
U.S. Weed Information: No information available.
Invasive/Noxious Weed Information: No information available.
Wetland Indicator: In North America Stachys coccinea has the following wetland designations; Arid West, FAC; Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast, FAC
FAC = Facultative, occur in wetlands and non-wetlands.
Threatened/Endangered Information: No information available.
Genus Information: 38 species in Stachys coccinea throughout North America. 4 species in Arizona, 14 species in California and 3 species in New Mexico.
The Plant List includes 1,011 scientific plant names of species rank for the genus Stachys. Of these 375 are accepted species names.
Comments: The photos above were taken from a plant at the foot of a canyon wall along Fish Creek Hill, Arizona. The type species for Salvia limitanea is from the vicinity of Ruby, Santa Cruz County, Arizona.
Scarlet Hedgenettle is a popular cultivated landscape plant with several named varieties.