Wood Nettle
Laportea canadensis
Also listed as Urticastrum divaricatum, Urtica canadensis
Also known as Canadian Wood Nettle, Canada Wood Nettle, Canada Nettle
Climate Match for your location
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A native herbaceous perennial with coarse, nettle-like leaves and stinging hairs on stems and foliage. Produces inconspicuous greenish flowers in summer and prefers rich woodland conditions.
Why grow it
Wood nettle fills a niche in woodland understory plantings where few herbaceous perennials establish reliably in deep shade and rich humus. Unlike stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), which spreads aggressively by rhizomes, wood nettle is more restrained and better suited to designed forest gardens. It serves as pioneer vegetation for disturbed woodland restoration and provides early-season forage for specialist insects.
Watch out for
The stinging hairs require careful handling during establishment and maintenance work, particularly when plants are young and tender. Wood nettle can self-seed prolifically in ideal conditions, so deadheading spent flowers may be necessary if containment is a priority. In areas with consistent moisture and rich soil, volunteer seedlings may appear beyond the intended planting zone.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Urticaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A native herbaceous perennial with coarse, nettle-like leaves and stinging hairs on stems and foliage. Produces inconspicuous greenish flowers in summer and prefers rich woodland conditions.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Wood Nettle grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Wood nettle fills a niche in woodland understory plantings where few herbaceous perennials establish reliably in deep shade and rich humus. Unlike stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), which spreads aggressively by rhizomes, wood nettle is more restrained and better suited to designed forest gardens. It serves as pioneer vegetation for disturbed woodland restoration and provides early-season forage for specialist insects.
Watch out for
The stinging hairs require careful handling during establishment and maintenance work, particularly when plants are young and tender. Wood nettle can self-seed prolifically in ideal conditions, so deadheading spent flowers may be necessary if containment is a priority. In areas with consistent moisture and rich soil, volunteer seedlings may appear beyond the intended planting zone.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Urticaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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