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Summary
Sometimes misspelt as Laportaea canadensis
Physical Characteristics
Urtica is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 1 m (3ft 3in). It is in flower from May to August. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Urtica canadensis.
Plant Habitats
Edible Uses
Young leaves - cooked[105]. Very nutritious and with a delicious flavour, they are used like spinach[159]. Some caution should be observed when harvesting this plant since the raw leaves have stinging hairs. It is perfectly safe to eat the leaves when they are cooked, however, since heat completely destroys the sting[K].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
A decoction of the plant is used in the treatment of fevers[257]. The root is diuretic[257]. An infusion of the crushed roots has been used to facilitate childbirth[257].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
A fibre obtained from the stem is used for making nets, cordage etc[4, 46, 61, 159, 257]. It is up to 50 times stronger than cotton[123].
Special Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
We have very little information on this plant and do not know how hardy it is, but it succeeds outdoors at Kew and Cambridge Botanical Gardens as well as our trial grounds in Cornwall[K]. It should succeed in most soils in sun or semi-shade. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a runner spreading indefinitely by rhizomes or stolons [1-2].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).
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Plant Propagation
Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Native Range
NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada, Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, New Brunswick, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Saskatchewan (southeast), Manitoba (south), United States, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota (east), Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida (west), Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, District of Columbia,
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :
| Related Plants
|
| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Boehmeria cylindrica | False Nettle, Smallspike false nettle | Perennial | 1.0 |
0-0
| | LM | SN | M | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Boehmeria glomerulifera | | Shrub | 4.0 |
-
| | LM | SN | DM | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Boehmeria longispica | | Shrub | 1.2 |
-
| | LM | SN | M | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Boehmeria macrophylla | | Shrub | 2.5 |
-
| | LM | SN | DM | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Boehmeria nipononivea | Ramie | Perennial | 1.5 |
-
| | LM | SN | M | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Boehmeria nivea | Ramie, Chinese Grass, Chinese Silk Plant | Perennial | 1.8 |
6-9
| | L | SN | DM | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Boehmeria spicata | | Shrub | 1.0 |
-
| | LM | SN | M | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Boehmeria tricuspis | | Perennial | 0.8 |
-
| | LM | SN | M | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Cecropia peltata | Trumpet Tree, Snakewood, Congo pump, Wild pawpaw, Pop-a-gun | Tree | 20.0 |
9-12
| F | LMH | N | M | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Debregeasia edulis | | Shrub | 0.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | S | M | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Debregeasia hypoleuca | | Shrub | 5.0 |
7-10
| | LMH | S | M | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Debregeasia longifolia | Wild Rhea | Shrub | 5.0 |
7-10
| | LMH | S | M | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Debregeasia wallichiana | | Tree | 5.0 |
-
| | LMH | S | M | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Elatostema cuneatum | | Annual | 0.3 |
-
| | LMH | S | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Elatostema dissectum | | Perennial | 0.7 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Elatostema laetevirens | | Perennial | 0.3 |
-
| | LMH | S | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Girardinia diversifolia | Himalayan Nettle | Annual/Perennial | 3.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Gonostegia hirta | | Perennial | 1.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 0 | 2 | |
| Laportea bulbifera | | Perennial | 0.6 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Laportea canadensis | Canadian Wood Nettle | Perennial | 1.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Laportea macrostachya | | Perennial | 0.8 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Musanga cecropioides | Corkwood | Tree | 20.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | N | M | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Myrianthus arboreus | Giant yellow mulberry, Monkeyfruit | Tree | 15.0 |
10-12
| M | LMH | N | MWe | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Oreocnide integrifolia | Wild Rhea | Tree | 12.0 |
10-12
| S | LMH | FS | MWe | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Parietaria judaica | Pellitory Of The Wall, Spreading pellitory | Perennial | 0.6 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Parietaria officinalis | Pellitory Of The Wall, Upright pellitory | Perennial | 0.6 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Pourouma cecropiifolia | Amazon Grape | Tree | 15.0 |
10-12
| F | MH | SN | M | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Touchardia latifolia | Olona | Shrub | 2.0 |
10-12
| S | LMH | FS | MWe | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Urera baccifera | Nettle Tree, Chichaste, Ortiga | Shrub | 4.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | SN | MWe | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Urtica angustifolia | | Perennial | 1.5 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | 3 |
|
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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
(L.)Wedd.
Botanical References
43235270
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
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