False Nettle
Boehmeria cylindrica
Also listed as Urtica cylindrica, Boehmeria austrina
Also known as Small-spike False Nettle, Stingless Nettle, Bog Hemp
Climate Match for your location
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False nettle is a native North American perennial with slender stems and small serrated leaves resembling true nettles, but without stinging hairs. It produces inconspicuous greenish flowers and thrives in moist woodland conditions.
Why grow it
False nettle offers a low-maintenance ground cover or understory plant for native plant gardens, particularly where true stinging nettles would be undesirable but their ecological benefits are valued. Unlike nettles, it causes no skin irritation while still attracting beneficial insects and providing food for caterpillars. It tolerates deeper shade and consistently moist soils better than many competing groundcovers, making it suitable for rain gardens and woodland restoration.
Watch out for
This plant spreads readily via rhizomes and self-seeding in suitable conditions, so containment may be necessary in smaller gardens. It can take a season or two to establish a dense cover, requiring patience before it outcompetes weeds effectively. In drier conditions or intense sun exposure, growth will slow considerably compared to its preferred moist, partially shaded habitat.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Urticaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
False nettle is a native North American perennial with slender stems and small serrated leaves resembling true nettles, but without stinging hairs. It produces inconspicuous greenish flowers and thrives in moist woodland conditions.
Climate Match for your location
See how well False Nettle grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
False nettle offers a low-maintenance ground cover or understory plant for native plant gardens, particularly where true stinging nettles would be undesirable but their ecological benefits are valued. Unlike nettles, it causes no skin irritation while still attracting beneficial insects and providing food for caterpillars. It tolerates deeper shade and consistently moist soils better than many competing groundcovers, making it suitable for rain gardens and woodland restoration.
Watch out for
This plant spreads readily via rhizomes and self-seeding in suitable conditions, so containment may be necessary in smaller gardens. It can take a season or two to establish a dense cover, requiring patience before it outcompetes weeds effectively. In drier conditions or intense sun exposure, growth will slow considerably compared to its preferred moist, partially shaded habitat.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Urticaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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