Cooley's Hedge Nettle
At a Glance: Perennial from rhizomes.
|Sun/Shade Tolerance||Hydrology||Elevation Range||
Common in open or in forest under story.
full sun > 80%
mostly sunny 60%-80%
partial sun and shade 40%- 60%
mostly shady 60%-80%
full shade > 80%
|Prefers moist habitat, common along coast.
Wetland Indicator Status:
FACW (facultative wetland)
Only common at lower elevations.
|Prefers nutrient rich, mucky, peaty soils.|
well drained soils
nutrient rich soils
nutrient poor soils
Aquatic and Wetland:
Ponds or lakes
Swales or wet ditches
Seasonally inundated areas
Marshes or swamps
Aquatic bed wetlands
Seeps, springsShorelines and Riparian:
Streams or rivers
Stream or river banks
In or near saltwater
Coastal dunes or beachesRocky or Gravelly Areas:
Slide areasSub-alpine and Alpine:
Forests and Thickets:
Forests and woods
Old growth forests
Forest edges, openings, or clearings
ThicketsMeadows and Fields:
Pastures or fields
Meadows or grassy areas
Mossy areasDisturbed Areas:
Nectar for hummingbirds
Nectar for butterflies
Host for insect larvae
Thickets and shelter
Thorny or protective cover
Birds: The showy, bright tubular flowers and frequently visited by several species of hummingbirds.
|Ethnobotanical Uses and Other Facts||
Material Uses: Nuu-chah-nulth fishermen wiped their hands on this plant before handling their gear.
Medicinal Uses: The Saanich peoples made spring tonic by steeping the crushed rhizomes in boiling water. The Green River and Puyallup peoples used the hedge nettle to cure boils. The Quileute used the hedge nettle to cure rheumatism.
Food Uses: The Haida used to chew on the young stems. The Quinalt peoples sucked the nectar from the flowers and covered steaming sprouts with hedge nettle plants to aid in the steaming process.
- Alden, P., D. Paulson. 1998. National Audubon Society, Field Guide to the Pacific Northwest. Chanticleer Press. Page 154.
- Cooke, S.S. A Field Guide to the Common Wetland Plants of Western Washington and Northwetern Oregon. Seattle Audubon Society and Washington Native Plant Society. Page 197.
- Guard, B.J. 1995. Wetland Plants of Oregon & Washington. Lone Pine Publishing. Page 200.
- Gunther, E. 1973. 2nd ed. Ethnobotany of Western Washington. University of Washington Press. Page 45.
- Hitchcock, C.L., A. Cronquist. 1973. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. Page 408.
- Lyons, C., W. Merilees. Trees and Shrubs to Know in Washington and British Columbia. Lone Pine Publishing. Page 301.
- Pojar, J., A. Mackinnon. 1994. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Lone Pine Publishing. Page 247.
- Turner, N.AJ. 1975. Food Plants of British Columbia Indians: part 1, Coastal Peoples. British Columbia Provincial Museum. Page 215.
The landscaping and restoration information provided on this page is taken from the Starflower Foundation Image Herbarium. All photographs © Starflower Foundation unless otherwise noted.