Cannabina Nettle (Urtica cannabina)

Family: Urticaceae | Edibility: Edible (3/5)

Urtica cannabina is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft) at a medium rate. It is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Leaves

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Young leaves - cooked. A very nutritious food, high in vitamins and minerals, it makes an excellent spinach substitute and can also be added to soups and stews. — Young leaves - cooked.; 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 use the young leaves and wear stout gloves when harvesting them to prevent getting stung.; Although the fresh leaves have stinging hairs, thoroughly drying or cooking them destroys these hairs.

Habitat & North American Range

Slopes, roadsides and weed infested places. Thickets, grasslands, sand dunes, sandy beaches, river banks, roadsides, near villages, weed-infested places, 800 - 2800 m in N. China. (Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8)