FNPS Plant Database

Boehmeria cylindrica

small-spike false-nettle, bog hemp
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

small-spike false-nettle, bog hemp

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Boehmeria cylindrica

Family:

Urticaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

2.5 to 4 ft tall by 1 to 3 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

green

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

winter dormant

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Ground cover in moist sites in casual settings. Very attractive when young, but becomes somewhat weedy and tall as it matures. Probably better suited for restoration than landscaping.

Considerations:

Can become overly abundant. Plant with caution.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed and root cuttings. Seeds are available through the Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative

Light:

Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Aquatic -to- Usually moist, occasional inundation

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Clay, Loam, Organic

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B,11

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.

Ecology

Wildlife:

Caterpillars

Larval host for several species of moths.


Larval host for red admiral ( Vanessa atalanta ) and eastern comma ( Polygonia comma ) butterflies.

Native Habitats:

Cypress swamps, floodplain forests, wet thickets, stream banks, marshes, wet forests, marshy shores, ditches.

Natural Range in Florida:

Loading Florida counties…

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

This species is in the Nettle Family and looks much like stinging nettle. However, it does not have stinging hairs.

Citations:

Minno, Marc, and Maria Minno. (1999). Florida Butterfly Gardening: A Complete Guide to Attracting, Identifying, and Enjoying Butterflies. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Traas, Pamela. (2001). Gardening for Florida's Butterflies. Great Outdoors Publishing Co., St. Petersburg, FL.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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