How to Grow and Care for Woodnettles

Canadian wood nettle grows from tuberous roots to a height of 30 to 150 cm and often appears in small clumps. Although it does have stinging barbs, the plant is edible and can be steamed and used in a variety of dishes. The taste is described as similar to that of asparagus.

The stem is green and upright with a height of 80 to 110 cm. The stems leaves and inflorescences also have sting and are painful to touch. The leaves are alternating have a long petiole and the leaf blades are round to broad-oval 8 to 20 cm long and 5 to 15 cm wide. The edges are coarse sharp sawtooth the lower one is smaller the upper one is larger and the leaf tip is slightly tailed. The flower season is from summer to fall. Hermaphrodite. The male inflorescence emerges from the lower leaf bud branches into a large number of cones of 5 to 10 cm in length and attaches a large number of male flowers. The male flowers are white and small with 5 pods and 5 stamens. A few or many female inflorescences stand from the upper leaf buds extend to a length of 20-30 centimeters without branching and form a large number of female flowers. The female flower is green and small with four petal-like sepals and one style and a white thread-like stigma. The fruit becomes a distorted oval fruit about 1.8 mm long.

The root thickens in a spindle shape. The stem is green, upright, and 40 to 80 cm high. Painful stings grow sparsely when touching stems and leaves. The leaves alternate, have a long petiole, and the leaf blades are narrow to oval, 5 to 15 cm long and 3 to 6 cm wide. The edges have the same shape of rough saw blades, the leaf tips sharply pointed, and the base from circular to blunt. A basket with a diameter of about 5 mm can be formed on the leaflet. Hermaphrodite. The male inflorescence branches from the lower leaf bud, branches into a 4 to 7 cm long conical inflorescence with many male flowers. Male inflorescences are shorter than leaves. The male flowers are greenish white and small, with 4-5 flower pieces and 4-5 stamens. The female inflorescence stands from the leaf buds of the tip, extends to 4 to 7 cm in length, including a long handle, becomes a conical inflorescence, and attaches a large number of female flowers. The female flower is light green and has four flower coat pieces, two of which extend to 2.5 mm in length after the flower and wrap the fruit. There is one white sting style. The fruit becomes a distorted oval fruit with a length of 2.5 to 3 mm.

Laportea peduncularis is a perennial herb distinguished by its stinging hairs covering the heart-shaped leaves and stems. These hairs can irritate the skin upon contact, a defense mechanism against herbivores. Its small, greenish flowers sprout in clustered spikes, adapting well to the understory of humid forests where it thrives in shaded, moist soil conditions.