Laportea canadensis (L.) Weddell

Wood nettle, Canadian woodnettle

Wood nettle is native to North America.

Plants: 2–4′ (60–121 cm) high, found in moist woods. Their stems have stiff white hairs that sting if you rub against them, producing a rash and a strong burning sensation that usually lasts about an hour.

Leaves: Alternate, up to 4 ⨉ 6″ (10 ⨉ 15 cm), egg-shaped, with coarse serrations.

Flowers: Male flower clusters are white or greenish white, in loose branching clusters. Each flower is less than ⅛″ (3.2 mm) across, with 5 petals. They appear from July to Sep­tember.

Fruits: Oblique dry seeds.

Habitats: Moist woods, streambanks, in rich soils.

Edibility: Plants require careful handlings, but the young leaves are edible, nutritious, and delicious, like spinach. Cooking destroys the small stinging barbs on the leaves, but use gloves when harvesting the plants. Boiling doesn’t work well, but steaming produces good results.

Similar species.

Online References:

References:

Older scientific or horticultural names

Laportea canadensis description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

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