Laportea canadensis - (L.)Wedd.
(L.)Wedd.
Canadian Wood Nettle
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Description
Laportea canadensis is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 1 m (3ft 3in). It is in flower from May to August. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Edible Uses
Young leaves - cooked. Very nutritious and with a delicious flavour, they are used like spinach. Some caution should be observed when harvesting this plant since the raw leaves have stinging hairs. It is perfectly safe to eat the leaves when they are cooked, however, since heat completely destroys the sting.
Medicinal Uses
Birthing aid Diuretic FebrifugeA decoction of the plant is used in the treatment of fevers. The root is diuretic. An infusion of the crushed roots has been used to facilitate childbirth.
Known Hazards
The leaves have stinging hairs, much like stinging nettles to which they are related.
Distribution
N. America - Nova Scotia to Ontario and North Dakota, south to Florida and Kansas.
Where It Grows
NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada, Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, New Brunswick, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Saskatchewan (southeast), Manitoba (south), United States, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota (east), Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida (west), Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, District of Columbia,
Cultivation
We have very little information on this plant and do not know how hardy it is, but it succeeds outdoors at Kew and Cambridge Botanical Gardens as well as our trial grounds in Cornwall. It should succeed in most soils in sun or semi-shade.
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Other Uses
FibreA fibre obtained from the stem is used for making nets, cordage etc. It is up to 50 times stronger than cotton.
