Stachys floridana aka Florida Betony

Stachys floridana is a perennial herb in the mint family, Lamiaceae. Common names include Florida betony, Florida hedgenettle, and rattlesnake weed. Kew lists Florida as its native range. It now grows across the southeastern United States. Gardeners find it in lawns, garden beds, and other planted spaces. Some call it wild artichoke, though it is not related to artichokes.

The plant grows fast and forms dense, upright growth. Its stems reach about 1.6 feet (0.48 metres) tall. They are straight, hairy, and square in cross-section. The stems lack a scent. Green leaves grow in opposite pairs along them. Leaf blades reach about 0.17 feet (0.05 metres) long. The foliage is deciduous. Below ground, the plant forms a network of rhizomes and tubers. Pale tubers have distinct segments that resemble a rattlesnake's rattle. This shape explains the name rattlesnake weed.

Flowers open from March through June, spanning spring and early summer. They form groups of three to six at upper leaf axils. These groups make spikes or spaced whorls along the stems. Each flower has a hairy, tube-shaped calyx with pointed lobes. The two-lipped corolla is white to pink with purple spots. It reaches about 0.04 feet (0.013 metres) long. The fruit is a schizocarp that splits into two parts. It measures less than 0.08 feet (0.025 metres) long.

Florida betony grows in full sun or partial shade. It suits moist soil with good drainage and tolerates occasional dryness. The listed soils include clay, loam, and shallow, rocky ground. It also grows in soil rich in organic matter. Division offers one way to grow new plants. Its tubers are edible, with a crisp texture and mild sweetness. This food use does not establish that every plant part is edible.

Its spread can make it a troublesome garden weed. The plant makes many seeds but also spreads through rhizomes and tubers. Even small pieces of rhizome can produce new plants. Moving tubers can carry it into a new site. Control among ornamental plants can be harder than in lawns. Hand removal may require finding and removing every tuber. Its strong spread creates ongoing work in planted beds.