False Nettle is a clumping perennial that grows 2-3 ft. in height, but can grow to 4 – 5 feet in the south. It is native to Canada and grows throughout Eastern, central and Southwestern states in the United States and up into Eastern Canada. It has tiny greenish flowers that are in small, head-like clusters, arranged in continuous or interrupted spikes in the axils of opposite leaves. Plant lacks stinging hairs. This is a coarse wetland plant sought out that hosts red admiral, question mark, and eastern comma butterflies. Plant in bright shade to full sun in moist to wet locations.
By R. A. Nonenmacher – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
Classification
Alternate names
bog hemp
Latin names
Urtica cylindrica
Boehmeria cylindrica
Boehmeria drummondiana
Boehmeria scabra
Family
Related species
Nettles, including dwarf nettle and burning nettle, which grow in Florida, and stinging nettle, which has naturalized to Florida.
Cultivars
Characteristics
- perennial
- butterfly host (red admiral)
- pollinator plant
- weedy
- wetland plant
- full sun
Description
Size
2 – 3 ft high but can grow to 4 – 5 feet in Florida. Clumping.
Color
inconspicuous greenish flower
Blooming season
Fruiting season
Lifespan
Natural environment
Wetlands
Uses
False nettle is an admiral butterfly host.
Planting and Growing
Requirements
Hardiness zone
zones 4 – 10
Sun
Full sun but likes some shade.
Water
Regular
Soil
Moist. Can adjust to medium-moist conditions once established and might require watering only in dry spells.
Salt tolerance
Cold/heat hardiness
Planting
When to plant
How to plant
Propagation
Maintenance
Pruning makes it bushier.
Harvesting
Diseases/Pests
Cautions
Invasive around our house.
Landscape Planning
This volunteers in all our flowerpots. Might be happy where the AC outlet is dripping.
Notes from the Jungle
Ownership
Wilsons carries false nettle seeds. This stuff shows up in all our outdoor flowerpots.
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE 