Boehmeria platanifolia

False Nettle Urticaceae

A striking sycamore-leaved false nettle, Boehmeria platanifolia forms an upright clump of handsome, rough-textured foliage, the broad, three-pointed leaves held on attractive reddish petioles. In summer it produces long, rather understated tassels of greenish-white flowers, which hang from the leaf axils. It is an excellent foliage plant for the woodland border, particularly where a bold, architectural leaf is wanted without the thuggish behaviour of some larger nettle relatives. The RHS gives it a mature height and spread of 1–1.5m and recommends moist, humus-rich soil in light or full shade. 

Its native range extends across central and eastern China, Korea and Japan, where it occurs in woodland margins, thickets, stream sides and mountain valleys, generally between 500 and 1,400m. 

There is a useful ethnobotanical connection too: the species is related to the famous ramie (Boehmeria nivea), and B. platanifolia is recorded as having high-quality bast fibre suitable for cloth, paper and rope. Its leaves have also been used as fodder and in traditional medicine, including preparations intended to relieve what Chinese sources describe as “internal fever.” 

Height: 1–1.5m
Spread: 1–1.5m
Flowers: July–August
Hardiness: H4 — −10 to −5°C