Urtica holosericea

'Hoary Nettle'

Urticaceae: A perennial herb to 2.5m, with creeping underground roots. Found along streams and ditches or in waste places where the ground is somewhat moist in plains, foothills, and mountain zones. The flowers are four tiny sepals and no petals, greenish coloured and inconspicuous. Blooming from April to September. Leaves opposite and narrowly lance-shaped and have stinging hairs, causing irritation to the skin. The blades are thick, ovate, and coarsely toothed. Native to Western North America, from Washington to California.

USES:

Young leaves may be steeped to make a drink. Young leaves may also be used to make a very nutritious food, high in vitamins and minerals, it makes an excellent spinach substitute and can also be added to soups and stews. Only the young leaves should be used, because older leaves develop gritty particles called cystoliths which act as an irritant to the kidneys. Stout gloves should be worn when harvesting them to prevent irritation. Although the fresh leaves have stinging hairs, thoroughly drying or cooking them destroys these hairs. Nettle beer is brewed from the young shoots.

The leaves has alterative, ant asthmatic, antidandruff, antispasmodic and expectorant properties. A poultice of the mashed plant has been used to ease the pain of headaches, pains in the neck, and sores. The fresh leaves of nettles have been rubbed or beaten onto the skin in the treatment of rheumatism. A hair wash can be made from the leaves and this is used as a tonic and antidandruff treatment.

A strong flax-like fibre is obtained from the stems which can be used for making string and cloth, it also makes a good quality paper.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Rapidly germinating, keep seed in constant moisture (not wet) with temperatures of about +20°C [68°F]. Seeds must be covered thinly. Do not cover very small seeds, but tightly press into the earth. Keep in cooler conditions after germination occurs. Plants prefer a nitrogen-rich soil in full sun to part shade. The best fibre is produced when plants are grown on deep fertile soils. Nettles are Dioecious, so male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

HARVESTED: 2021

 

APPROX. 100 SEEDS