Practical
Plants

Boehmeria cylindrica

False Nettle

a perennial member of the Boehmeria genus in the family Urticaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1 m
Fertility
self sterile
Flower type
dioecious

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Although members of the nettle family, plants in this genus do not have stinging hairs[4].

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A fibre obtained from the stems is used for cordage, nets etc[2].

Product or use
Fibre

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Florida to Texas, north to S. Quebec, S. Ontario and Minnesota.
Habitat
Moist or shady ground[6]. Alluvial or moist, deciduous woods, swamps, bogs, marshes, wet meadows and ditches from sea level to 1800 metres[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a warm greenhouse, only just covering the seed. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least 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 divisions can be planted straight into their permanent positions whilst smaller clumps are best potted up and kept in a cold frame until they are growing away well.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in a warm sandy soil[1] that is very well-drained[3]. We are not sure if this species is dioecious or monoecious[K].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

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  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

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  4. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

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  5. Flora of N. America http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/

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  6. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

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