I found this when weeding along a fence line where we planted some native Clematis. I know I could find out by touching it, but with a recent explosion of a weed rash on my arms, I hesitate.


Thank you for your help.

burning ? look at the stem if it is hairy

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)

I finally got out last night and looked at the stem. There were no hairs. But something is enjoying the leaves.

My first thought was U. dioica too:
http://agron-www.agron.iastate...
http://www.pollenlibrary.com/L...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

But if it doesn't have hairs on the stems it must be something else: http://www.bing.com/images/sea...

Last night I risked touching it and I got no reaction. I wish I found what was eating it, sometimes that can help identify the plant.

I'll take a stab at it...could it be Verbena hastata?

It could be... I'll keep watching it if it doesn't get eaten down. The soil is at best Mesic, but I've been watering the Clematis near this area, so it may be a little wetter than normal. If it is, it would be the third verbena on our property. We've got Prostrate and Hoary already.

It doesn't scream Verbena hastata to me. The leaf coloration, shape, and (as far as I can tell from a photo) rigidity (lack of floppiness) don't quite match, at least compared to the volunteer population in my garden. Not great photos, but here's what it looks like for me: http://www.robsplants.com/plan...

I think it is Common Nettle, I pull it all the time and never have had a reaction. However I am usually wearing gloves!

Wikipedia says there are 6 subspecies and 1 has no stinging hairs, maybe we are lucky and have that one. U. dioica subsp. galeopsifolia (fen nettle or stingless nettle), from Europe, does not have stinging hairs.

I think @Meridith79 may be right, check out some of these photos for comparison Hempnettle (Galeopsis tetrahit)

I haven't looked at it since I last replied, so do not know its condition.

In a way I am glad it is not stinging, because I was already in a dither of whether to keep it or not. It's a host plant for Red-Admiral Butterflies and it has plenty of medicinal uses. But then it is not native here...

What I have been trying to find out is if it is the Urtica genus that is the R-A host, or if anything named "Nettle". There's so many "Nettle" plants that it is mind boggling. Red-Admirals are thriving this year, so there must be plenty of food for the larvae, I just don't know what. They were the first butterfly I saw this year and the only other species right now in comparable numbers are the Monarchs. I got off topic here.

It is good to leave some host plants for the butterflies! I do the same. I try to make sure I plant something for them too.

So I was doing a search in my garden journal for an unrelated reason and happened upon an entry about Red Admiral host plants. I thought I'd look at it and there is a listing for some plants that look like nettles Boehmeria cylindrica which I am pretty sure is your palnt and probably the one I thunk of as nettle as well. https://www.google.com/search?...
Other similar looking to Nettles (They are in the same family) one Laportea canadensis
Parietaria pensylvanica
However Hops is a host for them and actually a cool plant if you like to make beer!

For comparison
Smallspike False Nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica)
Canadian Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis)
Pennsylvania pellitory (Parietaria pensylvanica)

Meredith79 said:It is good to leave some host plants for the butterflies! I do the same. I try to make sure I plant something for them too.

Last year I planted Dill mainly for the Black Swallowtail. None were seen last year, but some of the plant came back from seed. Sadly, the female came by when the flowers were already forming and some of the plants browning. I am not sure there was enough food.

I found out the Golden Alexanders are one of their native host plants. I thought to move the larvae to this since there are fresh leaves even though it flowered long ago, but learned they prefer to eat the plant where their eggs were laid. Bummer.... We bought five flats of the same gangly looking dill from the nursery. He never put chemicals on them... a rarity for him. Some of the larvae moved onto the new plants, so I hope they survive.

But to prevent this from happening again, I'll continue to let the dill go to seed, but I also got 20 Golden Alexanders from a local native grower and hope these butterflies come back.

I have success with BST cats on Zizia. I have both types. Heart Leaf and regular. They will also use Queen Anne's Lace. I don't like Queen ann's lace but it has sprung up in my yard from brought in soil and is pretty common so easy to find if you need to put your cat on something else.

I have lots of Zizia,



I also have Rue (Ruta graveolens) for them

Maybe you'd like to visit the butterflies forum?
http://garden.org/forums/view/...

Meredith, you also have a beautiful garden, Congratulations!

Thank you!