Exotic Nettles (Urtica spp.) - part 2

I have already described some nettle species on March 2018. Now I am writing about my experiences with growing 3 new species + a few additional photos of some ones described before.

Young Tree Nettle, Ongaonga (Urtica ferox)

  American Stinging Nettle - Urtica gracilis (syn. Urtica dioica subsp. gracilis) - this is monoecious perennial to about 1,5m (=5ft) tall, native to northern and central part of USA. Very frost hardy (to at least zone 6/7) and winter dormant. Its stems and leaves are vivid green and scarcely covered by stinging hairs. The young leaves are edible and very delicious when cooked. Nettle beer is brewed from the young shoots. Also medicinal herb. A good flax-like fibre is obtained from the stems (to making string, cloth and good quality paper). Likes moist, fertile soil and full sun to half-shade. Seeds need cold stratification period to germinating. Rarely cultivated in Europe.

Young plants

It has not much stinging (and not stinging) hairs

This species is monoecious (female and male inflorescences are on the same plant)

Young fruits

The male (larger) and female flowers

Young infutescence

 Hoary Nettle - Urtica holosericea (syn. Urtica dioica subsp. holosericea) - this is monoecious perennial to 2,5m (=8ft) tall, native to western USA. Its stems and leaves are hoary and very densely covered by stinging and not stinging hairs. Drought dormant and something frost resistant. The young leaves are edible and very delicious when cooked. Nettle beer is brewed from the young shoots. Also medicinal herb. A hair wash can be made from the leaves (used as tonic and to anti dandruff treatment). A strong flax-like fibre is obtained from the stems (to making string, cloth and good quality paper). Likes moist, fertile soil and full sun to half-shade. Seeds need cold stratification period to germinating. Very rare in trading.

Young seedlings

This nettle species is densely hairy

It is also monoecious (as previous species)

Male inflorescence

The flowers are inconspicuous

Male inflorescence

I made also a few new photos of species described before:

Hemp-leaved Nettle, Siberian Nettle (Urtica cannabina ):

The plant in flowers

This species of nettle has leaves similar to hemp

Young infrutescence

Kievan Nettle (Urtica kioviensis ):

The plant in flowers

Young infrutescences

Tree Nettle, Ongaonga (Urtica ferox):

It is very hard to wintering in nothern temperate areas (even on window sill) and very susceptible to mealybugs (they can easily kill the plant).

Young plants

This nettle species plants are covered by very large, strong stinging hairs

And burns very much

This is also very ornamental

 Last season I tried also growing various accessions of Common Nettle (Urtica dioica) native to sutropical areas (Brasil, Spain). These accessions had different appearance, but they all were dioecious. There are a few photos bellow:

Common Nettle (U. dioica) ex Brasil - female plant

Common Nettle (U. dioica) ex Brasil - male inflorescence

Common Nettle (U. dioica) ex Spain (first accession) - male plant

Common Nettle (U. dioica) ex Spain (first accession) - female plant

Common Nettle (U. dioica) ex Spain (first accession) - this form has very hairy stem

Common Nettle (U. dioica) ex Spain (second accession - less hairy, with long, narrow leaves) - male plant

Common Nettle (U. dioica) ex Spain (second accession - less hairy, with long leaves) - female plant

Common Nettle (U. dioica) ex Spain (third accession)

Common Nettle (U. dioica) ex Spain (third accession) - female plant

Common Nettle (U. dioica) ex Spain (third accession) - male inflorescence