This unique plant is like the stinging nettles but lacks the stinging bulbs at the base of the hairs. It has small green/white flowers that bloom spike-like through summer until October.
The stems are light green, 4-angled or round, and glabrous or slightly pubescent. The leaves are usually opposite along the stems, but sometimes they are alternate. They are ovate or ovate-lanceolate, up to 4″ long and 2½” across, and have long slender petioles. The upper surface of each leaf is dark green (in the shade) and glabrous or slightly pubescent; a central vein and 2 parallel secondary veins are readily observable. Spikes of green or greenish white flowers appear from the axils of the upper leaves. They are straight and angle upward from the axis of the central stem. The flowering spikes are about ½–3″ long; sometimes they are terminal, but more often they will develop additional leaves beyond the flowers. False Nettle is usually dioecious, with male and female flowers produced on separate plants. Male flowers are distributed along the spikes in bunches, while female flowers are produced along the spikes continuously.
Check Out: Vegetation Killer Guide to learn how to eradicate False Nettle
Color(s): Pale green, white flowers
Sun Exposure: Sun, partial shade
Soil: Moist
Average Height: 36 in.
Average Spread: 36 in.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: 4 – 10