Smallspike False Nettle
Boehmeria cylindrica
- Native to:
- Argentina, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, United States, Uruguay, Windward Is.
R. A. Nonenmacher
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Urticaceae
- Genus:
- Boehmeria
- Species:
- Boehmeria cylindrica
- USDA Symbol:
- BOCY
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- green
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Pilocrocis ramentalis, Pleuroptya fluctuosalis, Pleuroptya silicalis, Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Hummingbirds: Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) Butterflies:Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from rhizomes following fire; often increases in abundance in post-fire wetland habitats.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, moist, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found in wetlands and riparian zones
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily after cold stratification; surface sow as seeds may require light.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI