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| Category: Perennial |
| Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae) (Mints) |
| Origin: Mexico (North America) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Salmon |
| Bloomtime: Summer |
| Synonyms: [S. coccinea 'Hidalgo', S. 'Hidalgo'] |
| Height: 1-2 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Deer Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Stachys albotomentosa (Hidalgo Stachys) - An evergreen sprawling perennial to 12 to 18 inches tall by 2 to 3 feet wide with felt textured leaves that are pale green above with a whitish underside and are pleasantly aromatic (some say the smell is that of the popular soda 7-Up). The flowers rise above the foliage in summer and are peach to salmon color when they emerge and age to brick red. Plant in full coastal sun or part shade and water occasionally to regularly. Evergreen and hardy to 25 F but will resprout from the base in cooler climates. A Portland gardener told us that this plant does well in Portland, surviving to rebloom in the fall after all but the coldest winters. It is also resistant to deer predation attractive to butterflies and bees and hummingbirds. The name has long been confusing and remains somewhat unresolved - we first received this plant in 1993 from Monterey Bay Nursery listed as Stachys species 'Hildalgo' but later determined to our satisfaction that this plant was Stachys albotomentosa and listed it as such in our 1994 catalog. The specific epithet refers to the leaves covered with white hair, which apply describes the underneath side of this plant's foliage and is the distinction made for this species in a key to the Stachys coccinea complex by Billie L. Turner of the Department of Botany, University of Texas, Austin, Texas that was published in the May 1994 issue of Phytologia Volume 76(5):391-40l. This plant was described by THENNILAPURAM P. Ramamoorthy in 1987 in Anales del Instituto de Biologia Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico Serie Botanica (34:158) from the type locality near Jacala in the Mexican State of Hidalgo. The species is considered to be part of the Stachys coccinea complex and is often listed as Stachys coccinea 'Hidalgo' or more simply as Stachys 'Hidalgo'. We grew this charming plant from 1994 until 2010 but discontinued growing it due to a lack of customer interest.
This information about Stachys albotomentosa displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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