Identification
This native perennial grows from 2-4 feet tall; stems and leaves are armed with stinging hairs. Large oval leaves with sharply toothed margins and pointed leaves are on long stalks alternating on the stem (A,B). The tiny 1/8th inch male and female flowers are on separate branching clusters growing from the upper leaf axils. White to greenish-white male flowers lie below, originating from the leaf axils of the mid to upper stem. Green female flowers are on top, rising above the upper leaves. (B,C,D). The fruit is a tiny black seed (E). See comments for comparison with look-alike Nettle Family members.
Grows in moist woodlands, flowering from June through August. Common along woodland trails and in ravines at Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods. During July and August, much of the forest floor in moister upland woods and ravines may be covered with Woodland Nettles, as shown in photo F from Fontenelle Forest’s Spring Hollow.
Alternate leaves separate Wood Nettle from False Nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica) and Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) which have opposite leaves. When flowering, the unique placement of the male and female flower clusters of Wood Nettle is also a good identifier. False Nettle, unlike the other two, lacks stinging hairs.
Wood Nettle is a host plant for the caterpillars of native butterfly species like Red Admiral, Question Mark and Comma.
The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Roland Barth.