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NAME: Wood Nettle

SPECIES / FAMILY:  Laportea Canadensis / Urticaceae

OTHER COMMON NAME(S):  Canada Nettle

CONDITIONS: partial shade, moist soil
 

PARTS:	EDIBLE	TASTE	RAW/COOK	SEASON
All
Shoots		spinach	COOK	Spring & Fall
Leaves		spinach	COOK	Spring & Fall
Buds/Flowers
Fruits
Roots
Seeds
Nuts
Pods
Stalk
Bark

 

PORTION: average

 

COMMENT:  As with Stinging Nettle…Highly nutritious. New shoots appear in Spring and Fall.  Use young leaves before flowering, as vegetable or tea. “…soaking, cooking, refrigerating, wilting or drying neutralizes the plant’s sting.” (2) Also see Stinging Nettles.

 

CAUTION: As with Stinging Nettle, stinging hairs (but fewer) can be painful and last hours, use crushed or chewed leaves of jewelweed, plantain, or dock to help remove pain.

NUTRITION/MEDICINAL:    As with Stinging Nettle…Young leaves - cooked. Very nutritious and with a delicious flavour, they are used like spinach (1) Birthing aid;  Diuretic;  Febrifuge. (1)

LOOK-A-LIKES:  Has wider leaves than Stinging Nettle. False Nettle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boehmeria,
Comparative photos with other Nettles and Horse Balm: http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/food/edibleplants/nettle/index.html

 

POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES:  White Snakeroot - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageratina_altissima 

 

OTHER USES:  A fibre obtained from the stem is used for making nets, cordage etc. It is up to 50 times stronger than cotton. (1, 3)

 

SOURCE LINKS (may include nutritional and medicinal info, plus other uses):

1. https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Laportea+canadensis
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laportea_canadensis
3. https://theasummerdeer.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/secrets-of-wood-nettle
4. https://plighttofreedom.com/wood-nettle
5. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=Laportea+Canadensis&title=Special%3ASearch&go=Go