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Wood-nettle

Laportea canadensis

Last reviewed: July 2026

Wood-nettle (Laportea canadensis)
Photo: (c) Jason Hollinger, some rights reserved (CC BY)

Light

part shade

Water

medium

Size

12"–48" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 35 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 432 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Central Great PlainsGreat PlainsOzark HighlandsCentral Irregular PlainsNorthwestern Great PlainsPiedmontNorthern Glaciated PlainsWestern Corn Belt PlainsNorthern ForestsNorthern Lakes and ForestsNorth Central Hardwood ForestsDriftless AreaSoutheastern Wisconsin Till PlainsCentral Corn Belt PlainsEastern Corn Belt PlainsSouthern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift PlainsNortheastern HighlandsNortheastern Coastal ZoneNorthern Allegheny PlateauErie Drift PlainMiddle Atlantic Coastal PlainNorthern PiedmontSoutheastern PlainsBlue RidgeRidge and ValleyEastern Temperate ForestsCentral AppalachiansWestern Allegheny PlateauInterior PlateauInterior River Valleys and HillsMississippi Alluvial PlainMississippi Valley Loess PlainsAcadian Plains and HillsEastern Great Lakes LowlandsAtlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Wood-nettle is a native perennial with broad, toothed leaves that thrives in shaded woodland settings. Despite its name, it has stinging hairs that can cause skin irritation when touched. The plant produces small, inconspicuous greenish flowers in summer and spreads to form colonies in moist, fertile soil.

In an HOA neighborhood

Wood-nettle takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Stinging hairs cause skin irritation
  • Can appear weedy and uncontrolled
  • May spread aggressively in ideal conditions

Wildlife value

Host plant for eastern comma, question mark butterfly.

This plant attracts bees and beetles with its summer blooms and serves as a host plant for several butterfly species. Its seeds also provide food for birds and small mammals.

Common questions

How much sun does Wood-nettle need?
Wood-nettle grows best in part shade conditions.
When does Wood-nettle bloom?
Wood-nettle blooms in June, July, and August.
Where is Wood-nettle native?
Wood-nettle (Laportea canadensis) is native to AL, AR, CT, DE and 35 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
What butterflies or moths does Wood-nettle host?
Wood-nettle is a larval host plant for eastern comma and question mark butterfly.
Is Wood-nettle HOA-friendly?
Wood-nettle takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

Ready to grow Wood-nettle? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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