Heart-leaf Stinging Nettle Urtica chamaedryoides

• Attributes:

  Genus:

  Urtica

  Species:

  chamaedryoides

  Family:

  Urticaceae

  Uses (Ethnobotany):

  The fiber from the stems has been used to make clothing. They have been used medicinally to treat allergies, and respiratory issues.

  Life Cycle:

  Annual

  Recommended Propagation Strategy:

  Seed

  Country Or Region Of Origin:

  Central and Southeastern U.S.A. to Guatemala

  Distribution:

  AL , AR , FL , GA , IL , KS , KY , LA , MA , MO , MS , NC , NY , OH , OK , SC , TN , TX , WV

  Wildlife Value:

  This plant supports the following larvae: Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma), Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), Question Mark Butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis). Questionmark butterflies have an interesting life cycles: overwintered adult Question Mark butterflies lay eggs from spring until the end of May. These will appear as summer adults from May-September, laying eggs that then develop into the winter adult form. The winter adults appear in late August and shelter for the winter starting the cycle all over again. Adult Question Mark butterflies feed on rotting fruit, tree sap, dung, and carrion only visiting flowers for feeding when absolutely necessary. Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) rarely use this host plant in North Carolina.

  Edibility:

  Leaves and stems are edible once cooked, dried, wilted, or refrigerated as that seems to take out the "sting" from the prolific hairs. It tastes similar to spinach, is high in many vitamins and minerals and can be used in the same ways. Do not eat the plant after flowering.

• Whole Plant Traits:

  Plant Type:

  Edible

  Herbaceous Perennial

  Native Plant

  Weed

  Habit/Form:

  Erect

  Prostrate

  Growth Rate:

  Medium

  Maintenance:

  Low

  Texture:

  Medium

• Cultural Conditions:

  Light:

  Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

  Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

  Soil Texture:

  Clay

  Loam (Silt)

  Soil Drainage:

  Good Drainage

  Moist

• Fruit:

  Fruit Color:

  Brown/Copper

  Fruit Type:

  Achene

  Fruit Length:

  < 1 inch

  Fruit Width:

  < 1 inch

  Fruit Description:

  Flattened egg-shaped brown achenes enclosed by bract-like structures

• Flowers:

  Flower Color:

  Green

  White

  Flower Inflorescence:

  Cyme

  Insignificant

  Flower Bloom Time:

  Summer

  Flower Petals:

  4-5 petals/rays

  Flower Size:

  < 1 inch

  Flower Description:

  Insignificant greenish to whitish flowers are either male or female occurring in leaf axils on the same plant in spherical clusters. The male flowers have five stamens with explosive anthers and female flowers have one ovary subtended by four to five sepals. Blooms March to Nov. Flowers are wind-pollinated.

• Leaves:

  Leaf Color:

  Green

  Leaf Feel:

  Prickly

  Leaf Type:

  Simple

  Leaf Arrangement:

  Opposite

  Leaf Shape:

  Lanceolate

  Ovate

  Leaf Margin:

  Crenate

  Serrate

  Hairs Present:

  Yes

  Leaf Length:

  1-3 inches

  Leaf Width:

  < 1 inch

  Leaf Description:

  Heart-shaped opposite leaves with toothed margins resemble mint and having many stinging hairs. Leaf base cordate to rounded. 1-2.5 inches long and up to 1 nch wide.

• Stem:

  Stem Color:

  Green

  Stem Is Aromatic:

  No

  Stem Description:

  Weak green to red branched stems with many stinging hairs

• Landscape:

  Landscape Location:

  Meadow

  Naturalized Area

  Landscape Theme:

  Butterfly Garden

  Edible Garden

  Native Garden

  Attracts:

  Butterflies

  Problems:

  Contact Dermatitis

  Problem for Children