Canadian Wood Nettle
Laportea canadensis

Family: Urticaceae

What it is like

Sometimes misspelt as Laportaea canadensis

Laportea canadensis is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 1 m (3ft 3in). It is in flower from May to August. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 1

Where it is found

Rich, moist, deciduous forests, often along seepages and streams from sea level to 2000 metres.

N. America - Nova Scotia to Ontario and North Dakota, south to Florida and Kansas.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

Young leaves - cooked. Very nutritious and with a delicious flavour, they are used like spinach. Some caution should be observed when harvesting this plant since the raw leaves have stinging hairs. It is perfectly safe to eat the leaves when they are cooked, however, since heat completely destroys the sting.

Medicine

Rating: 1

A decoction of the plant is used in the treatment of fevers. The root is diuretic. An infusion of the crushed roots has been used to facilitate childbirth.

Birthing aid: Used in facilitating birth, but not just to cause uterine contrctions.

Diuretic: Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.

Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.

Other

Rating: 2

A fibre obtained from the stem is used for making nets, cordage etc. It is up to 50 times stronger than cotton.

Fibre: Used for making cloth, rope, paper etc.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

We have very little information on this plant and do not know how hardy it is, but it succeeds outdoors at Kew and Cambridge Botanical Gardens as well as our trial grounds in Cornwall. It should succeed in most soils in sun or semi-shade. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a runner spreading indefinitely by rhizomes or stolons.

Propagating it: Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 0-0

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

The leaves have stinging hairs, much like stinging nettles to which they are related.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Urtica canadensis.