This is widespread on damp fertile soils in alluvial woodlands of eastern North America, but uncommon to absent on the southeastern Coastal Plain (K). It appears to be the most vigorous species of Stachys within eastern North America, with extensively creeping rhizomes, but it is relatively palatable to mammalian herbivores (especially rabbits in the garden of JC). Variation needs further study. Some colls. from Ky. appear transitional to hispida. Colls. from LYON and probably elsewhere are referable to var. perlonga Fern., with lanceolate leaves tapering from a trunctate base. Var. perlonga is known from the lower Mississippi Valley and, to a lesser extent, the Atlantic Coastal Plain (Nelson 1981), but it has not been recognized in most recent treatments (e.g. J.B. Nelson in W). Without flowers, the species appears quite similar in habit (and habitat) to Teucrium canadense. Its leaves differ in their truncate to subcordate bases (versus cuneate) and less sharply serrated margins; stems have less prominently rounded angles. Also, plants tend to be less pubescent, but there is much variation in both species.