wood nettle
ExplorePlants
wood nettle
Laportea canadensis
Wood nettle is a green plant that grows in shady places like forests. It has soft, fuzzy leaves and can be a bit prickly if you touch it. It's a great plant to learn about nature!
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The wood nettle is a tall, slender plant with vibrant green, oval leaves covered in tiny, clear stinging hairs. Its inconspicuous, greenish-white flowers grow in small clusters where the leaves meet the stem.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRosalesFamilyUrticaceaeGenusLaportea
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Even though it stings, many caterpillars munch on its leaves without getting hurt!
Its sting comes from formic acid, the same chemical found in ant bites!
Surprisingly, cooking its young leaves makes them taste like spinach, with no sting!
The plant's tough stems were once used by Native Americans to weave strong ropes!
Special abilities
Ability
Sting Defense
Wood nettle has needle-like stinging hairs that inject irritants, helping it defend against hungry animals.
Ability
Rapid Colonizer
Wood nettle can spread quickly using underground stems called rhizomes, helping it claim sunny forest floor spots.
Ability
Nutrient Collector
Wood nettle has deep roots that help it gather nutrients from rich forest soils, fueling its rapid growth.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-150 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Wind
Ecological connections
eaten by
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Browses on its leaves and stems.
eaten by
Question Mark Butterfly
Polygonia interrogationis
Its caterpillars feed on wood nettle leaves.
eaten by
Red Admiral Butterfly
Vanessa atalanta
Larvae sometimes use it as a host plant.
Traits
Furry
Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Spiky/Thorny
Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Be careful not to touch the leaves directly, as they can cause a little itch.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is wood nettle?
30-150 cm
When does wood nettle bloom?
Summer
Is wood nettle edible?
Yes
Is wood nettle toxic?
Mild
What is wood nettle's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is wood nettle pollinated?
Wind
Where is wood nettle usually found?
Forests
Snap Map
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