Smooth Hedgenettle
Stachys tenuifolia
Last reviewed: August 2026
Smooth Hedgenettle is a moisture-loving forb that blooms from June through September, producing small pink flowers that attract bees and butterflies. It suits part sun sites with consistently moist, medium-water soil.
Toxicity unknown
Smooth Hedgenettle (Stachys tenuifolia) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Smooth Hedgenettle as toxic to livestock.
Light
part sun
Water
medium
Size
12"–36" H × 8"–24" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Native to
AL, CT, IA, IL and 24 more states
Pollinators
bees, butterflies
Before you buy
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Smooth hedgenettle is a native perennial wildflower with upright stems and spikes of small white or pale pink flowers. It blooms from summer through early fall and forms modest clumps that spread gradually over time.
Growing Smooth Hedgenettle
Grow Smooth Hedgenettle in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 8 to 24 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Smooth Hedgenettle takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Looks too wild and weedy for formal landscapes
- Name includes 'nettle' which may concern neighbors
- Spreads gradually and can appear unkempt
Wildlife value
The flowers attract various bees and butterflies throughout the long blooming season. The plant provides nectar from June through September, making it valuable for pollinators during the peak summer months.
Common questions
- When does Smooth Hedgenettle bloom?
- Smooth Hedgenettle typically flowers from June through September, with pink blooms appearing along upright spikes through the summer months.
- How much light and water does this plant need?
- It grows best in part sun with medium, evenly moist soil. It can tolerate brighter conditions if soil moisture stays consistent, and it handles somewhat shadier spots as well.
- What pollinators visit Smooth Hedgenettle?
- Bees and butterflies regularly visit the flowers of Smooth Hedgenettle for nectar during its summer bloom period.
- What type of plant is Smooth Hedgenettle?
- It is a herbaceous forb that dies back to the ground each year, regrowing from its roots the following season.
- Where does Smooth Hedgenettle grow well in a garden or landscape?
- It does well in moist meadows, low woodland edges, and areas near streams or ditches where soil stays damp through the growing season.
- Is Smooth Hedgenettle toxic to livestock?
- The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Smooth Hedgenettle as toxic to livestock.
- Is Smooth Hedgenettle HOA-friendly?
- Smooth Hedgenettle takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Smooth Hedgenettle? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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