Diohio's Garden
Nettle, Wood
Genus: Laportea.
Species: Laportea canadensis.
Native wildflower to Ohio, HOST plant for Eastern Comma, Queston Marck, and Red Admiral butterflies. I first found a colony of Wood Nettle in the back ravine down along the streambed. It loves damp, rich woods. I dug some & transplanted them to huge pots that I place on my front porch every summer and the butterflies always find it and use it to lay their eggs. During winter I protect it from winter against a raised bed and cover with leaves. All Urtica and Laportea species have flowers without petals and downy hairs containing formic acid. If the plant touches bare skin, it will cause a painful stinging sensation that may last from hours to days.Wood Nettle isn't as bad as Stinging Nettle. Wood Nettle only bothers my skin for a few minutes.
