PlantsVegetables & Roots
Wood Nettle
Laportea canadensis
Chicago-region native. Suited to zone 6a.
Cooked spring green for moist shade
AdvancedVegetables & RootsAlso Shade & GroundcoversEdible
- Light
- Part shade–shade
- Moisture
- Moist
- Mature size
- 2–4 ft
- Spacing
- 18–30 in
- Bloom or harvest
- Young shoots spring
- How it spreads
- Moderate colony; stinging hairs
- What to buy
- Plug or division for reliable residential establishment; seed for larger restoration areas.
- When to plant
- Apr–May; late Aug–Sep, finishing about six weeks before the first frost.
In the design
Keep away from paths and children's play areas.
If you eat it
Young leaves and shoots cooked
Wear gloves; never eat raw; confirm ID and cook thoroughly
Only eat what you planted and can name. This is not a foraging or medical guide.
