Flower profile
Florida hedgenettle
Stachys floridana
Florida hedgenettle is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in March–May.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Louisiana, South Carolina
Quick look
Stachys floridana is a species of betony in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to the United States, where its true native range is probably limited to Florida, but today it is known throughout the Southeast as an introduced species and common weed. It occurs as far west as Texas, and it has been recorded in California. Its common names include Florida betony, Florida hedgenettle, and rattlesnake weed.
- It belongs to the Lamiaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 12 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to South Carolina and Louisiana. NatureServe
- In South Carolina, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–May. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 436 research-grade sightings of it in South Carolina, ranking #84 among the 111 flowers on our South Carolina list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 432 research-grade sightings of it in Louisiana, ranking #86 among the 109 flowers on our Louisiana list. iNaturalist
Florida hedgenettle gift ideas
Handmade florida hedgenettle gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Florida hedgenettle art print
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Florida hedgenettle greeting card
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Florida hedgenettle mug
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Florida hedgenettle earrings
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Florida hedgenettle embroidery pattern
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Florida hedgenettle sticker
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in each of our 2 states
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | Native | March–May | 436 |
| Louisiana | Native | few records | 432 |
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- South Carolina
- No list South Carolina has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's South Carolina ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in South Carolina.
- Louisiana
- No list Louisiana has no state list of endangered or threatened plants separate from the federal list, so we show federal status and NatureServe's Louisiana ranks. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Louisiana.
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension notes: “Tuber is edible and is said to have a pleasingly crunchy texture and a bland, slightly sweet taste.” NC State Extension
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records Florida hedgenettle in 12 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia.
South Carolina counties with USDA records: Lexington, Oconee, Orangeburg, Williamsburg.
Louisiana counties with USDA records: Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Bienville, Caddo, Calcasieu, Cameron, Catahoula, Concordia, De Soto, East Baton Rouge, Iberia, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Natchitoches, Orleans, Ouachita, Rapides, Richland, Sabine, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Vermilion, Washington, West Baton Rouge.
More South Carolina flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile STFL4.
- iNaturalist, Stachys floridana: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Stachys floridana (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- South Carolina: South Carolina State Plant Pest List, plants (S.C. Code Regs. 27-135; Clemson Dept. of Plant Industry).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Stachys floridana (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
- Photo: Grace Merkert via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.