Cooley’s Hedgenettle

Stachys cooleyae

two-lipped fused petals of a vibrant purple-red color. In this image the bottom lip is holding a drop of water

Photo Credit: Peter Stevens, Wikimedia commons, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License

Plant Description

Cooley’s hedgenettle is an attrasctive perennial herb in the mint family native to moist forests, streambanks, and wet meadows of the Pacific Northwest. It grows 2–4 feet tall, with square stems, opposite, serrated leaves, and spikes of tubular pink flowers that bloom in mid- to late summer. Like other members of the mint family, it is highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, serving as an important nectar source in riparian and wetland habitats. Ecologically, Cooley’s hedgenettle contributes to pollinator diversity, while its rhizomatous growth helps stabilize soils in saturated environments. Forms an attractive clump in shady, moist corners of the garden.

Plant Details

Life Forms	Forb
Habitats	Disturbed sites Floodplains Forest openings Forest understories Forests Gravel bars Marshes Parklands Ponds Residential yards Rights of way Riparian areas Riparian forests Rivers Roadsides Seeps Streams Trailsides Waterways Wet prairies Wetlands Woodlands
Soil and Moisture Conditions	Moist Nutrient rich soil
Special Uses	Attracts hummingbirds Attracts pollinators and or other beneficial insects Blooms August Blooms July Blooms June Deciduous Erosion control Flowering Flowers pink Good for shady woodland garden Herbaceous Ornamental Perennial Produces nectar Produces pollen Provides soil stabilization Provides wildlife habitat Restoration/revegetation
Shade Preference	Full shade Full sun Part shade
Mature Height	28-59"