Rattlesnake Weed Stachys floridana

Florida Betony is a perennial herb typically found in lawns, gardens, and landscapes.  It is native to the United States, where its true native range is probably limited to Florida, but it is known throughout the southeast as a common weed. It has been called wild artichoke, but it is not related to the artichoke.

The plant produces many seeds, but often reproduces by means of rhizomes and tubers. Small segments of rhizome can sprout into new plants or the tuber may be transported to a new area. It can be found in lawns and ornamentals, where it can be harder to control than in lawns. Weed control in ornamentals may require hand-pulling, with careful removal of all the tubers.

Florida Betony is a member of the mint family, which includes aromatic herbs or shrubs and some trees or vines. The plants are characterized by hairy, erect stems reaching 19 inches high that are square in cross-section with flowers in long clusters, heads, or interrupted whorls on the stem. The plant grows from a network of rhizomes with tubers. The distinctive pale-colored tuber is segmented in such a way that it resembles the rattle on the tail of a rattlesnake, hence the common name. The oppositely arranged leaves have blades up to 2 inches long. Flowers grow in clusters of 3 to 6 from the upper leaf axils. The tubular, hairy calyx of sepals has pointed lobes. The two-lipped corolla is up to a 1/2 inch long and white to pink with purple spots. The fruit is a schizocarp less than an inch long that splits in half.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It can be an aggressive weedy plant.