Plants of the San Marcos Foothills Preserve
Stachys bullata (California hedge-nettle, wood mint)
Uncommon, native, perennial shrub found in coastal sage-scrub plant community, but also on the edges of oak woodland. Flowers are yellow (aging red). Blooms in spring. Previous scientific name: Lotus scoparius.
Stachys bullata (California Hedge-nettle, Wood Mint) NATIVE. Pictured in spring.
Stachys bullata (California Hedge-nettle, Wood Mint) NATIVE. Pictured in summer.
Stachys bullata (California Hedge-nettle, Wood Mint) NATIVE. Pictured in summer.
Stachys bullata (California Hedge-nettle, Wood Mint) NATIVE. Pictured in summer.
Stachys bullata (California Hedge-nettle, Wood Mint) NATIVE. Pictured in summer.
Native Stachys bullata (left) should not be confused with non-native Lamium amplexicaule (right). Both are in the mint family, have similar flowers and have a similar scent. The shape of the leaves differ greatly between the two. Stachys bullata grows in oak woodland and Lamium amplexicaule is a weed that grows mostly in disturbed areas.