Common Name: False Nettle

General Information

Boehmeria cylindrica is a perennial plant with a stem that can become more or less woody and persist. The stem can be simple or branched, the plant commonly growing 50 - 150cm tall, and often forming large clumps[, ].
The plant is gathered from the wild for use as a fibre plant[].

Known Hazards

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

Botanical References

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Range

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Venezuela, the Guyanas, through central America, the Caribbean and eastern N. America to Quebec

Habitat

Moist or shady ground[]. Alluvial or moist, deciduous woods, swamps, bogs, marshes, wet meadows and ditches; from sea level to 1,800 metres in N. America[]. Damp or wet thickets, often in shallow water; 350 - 1,400 metres in Guatemala[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Boehmeria cylindrica has a very wide range from the subtropics of S. America, through the tropical regions of the Caribbean and central America north as far as the temperate zone of southern Canada.
Succeeds in a warm sandy soil[] that is very well-drained[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

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

Propagation

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.