Seven-up Anyone?

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DebbieTT

Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula

Posted: Dec-17-2004 at 6:52pm

Stachys albotomentosa 'Hidalgo', a.k.a. the seven up plant, because it smells like seven-up. Stick your nose into it and you almost expect effervescent bubbles to rise up and tickle your nose.

The apricot-colored flowers attract bees and hummingbirds. It makes a good petting plant, as the leaves are soft and felt-like, much like Lamb’s ear, which it is related to. However, the leaves of S. ‘Hidalgo’ are much smaller than other stachys. I wonder if you petted these plants if it would have the same affect on lowering blood pressure and calming you, much like when you pet animals. One thing though, unlike some animals, the plant won’t bite, whereas an animal munching on you could give you higher blood pressure because it hurts and a trip to the hospital for stitches or rabies shots may be called for with such an injury. Perhaps it IS healthier to pet these stachys instead!

Sunset lists this as Sunset zones 7-10, 12-24 although it is rated as USDA zone 7. It definitely needs well-drained soil so I am wondering if Sunset is giving it that rating as it is too wet during the winter in the PNW for its taste. I planted mine a few years ago in a raised bed and it died, but seedlings sprang up in the gravel pathway and are thriving under neglect and an occasional trampling.

So is anyone growing this and what are your experiences with it?

 

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Lisa A

Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro

Posted: Dec-18-2004 at 11:13am

I am, Debbie. Is your plant a baby of mine? I remember bringing this to swaps in the past but I can't remember who got one.

I received it at a swap about 6 years ago. I was told it was called Stachys albotomentosa. I don't know if it underwent a name change or if I was told incorrectly but I've since learned its correct name is S. hidalgo. I knew absolutely nothing about it and I found very little info on it at the time, too, so the fact that it survived and still lives is pure luck.

I planted it at the front of a raised bed close to my house that gets afternoon sun, plus reflected heat and sun from its proximity to the house. I agree that good drainage is key. I also think a light hand with mulch or a gravel mulch instead is best. Its square stems (mint family member) are fairly brittle. I have to be very careful working around it; a little bruising is fine and the 7-up scent is released (what fun!) but rough treatment results in broken branches. It is an incredibly long bloomer in my garden - it is still blooming!

I was astounded at how wide it grows. Its limbs reached into the neighboring bluebeard, Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Dark Knight' and created a wonderful combination.

The small black seeds are numerous (one in each flower head) but I wouldn't call it a prolific seeder in my garden (the seedlings became the ones given in swaps). It might seed more if it was near a gravel path as yours is, Debbie. A friend collected seed but I never heard if it was easily germinated.

 

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HarleyLady

Location: Willamette Valley

Posted: Dec-18-2004 at 12:09pm

I have one that I bought several years ago in a 4" pot. It's been moved several times (like much of my garden) and is currently on the outer edge of a border on the east side of the house where it gets morning sun. The soil is clay and has only been lightly amended with compost. I just went to see how it's doing since it doesn't have good drainage and I had meant to move it to a better spot but forgot. Surprisingly, it's thriving, about two feet in diameter and has tons of blooms on it, so perhaps I'll leave it there. This is a real favorite of mine and the grandkids love it.

HarleyLady

 

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bakingbarb

Location: Washington, Western

Posted: Dec-19-2004 at 7:20pm

May I request some of those prolific seeds? Postage paid ofcourse.

~BakingBarb

 

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JeanneK

Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro

Posted: Dec-20-2004 at 7:55am

Wow, 7-up hunh? A very beautiful red. The flower looks like a penstemon to me. The leaves do look like a mint, however. If the babies ends up in a plant swap, I'll take one!

Jeanne

 

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hummymummy

Location: Western British Columbia

Posted: Dec-20-2004 at 4:23pm

Ooooo Debbie I love this plant. I love it when people smell it for the first time and ponder just what is that scent and their eyes light up when you mention 7 up. Thats it, thats it! Kids and adults love it. I grow this in Vancouver B.C. Canada and as the winter has been fairly mild so far, I've actually still have a few blooms. I didn't have it come through last winter which was a record bad one for rain and sustained freeze. It's very easy though to grow from seed and blooms in it's first season from seed started in late January. It is a very good hummingbird plant which is related to the Stachys coccinea, which I find has an unpleasant scent to the leaves. For myself , though I find this plants needs good winter drainage, surprisingly for such a felty plant it appreciates some water in our dry summers.

Cheri

 

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Lisa A

Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro

Posted: Dec-20-2004 at 4:44pm I've got flowers but I don't know if they're being visited and pollinated for seed production. If I can find any seeds, I'll let you know. If not this year, maybe seedlings next summer (we will surely have a swap sometime in the year) or seeds next fall.

Yep, Cheri, it's a hummer favorite for sure!

 

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DebbieTT

Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula

Posted: Dec-20-2004 at 4:57pm Hi Lisa, No I missed out on that plant at the swaps, so I bought one myself as I was impressed with it. From what I found out about this is its name now is Stachys albotomentosa 'Hidalgo' it used to be S. coccinea 'Hidalgo' and still sometimes called that. So your source is saying it is S. hidalgo? Interesting that it is now considered a species instead of a cultivar, or someone has it wrong that it is a cultivar? Have to look further into this!

Harley Lady will you please let me know if yours survives over the winter in wet clay soil?

Before I add this to the gallery, I want to be able to give advice that is specific for our region and this plant so far seems to have some conflicts in its growing conditions. Although I can add it now and talk about the conflicting advice about it, I don't have enough of my own experience with it yet to feel comfortable enough to know if it is going to be correct or not.

Barb, I will look to see if I have any seeds out there, its getting dark right now so I will check tomorrow.

Jeanne the color is more on the coral side although it does look a bit on the red side. It is a beauty whatever shade it is.

Hummy, what conditions are you growing it in?

So it seems the consensus is as I thought—good drainage is a must and it sounds like a protected area against a south facing wall may help it winter over during our more severe winters?

That it is hardy down to zone 7 seems to indicate it might be the winter wet that will kill it? Hummy how cold did you get down to last winter?

It seems like a good plant for our climate and let it reseed (as it seems polite about it) when winters are extra harsh?

Thanks for the help!