Native Habitat:
Moist meadows, riparian areas, forest edges, and disturbed sites.
 
Bloom Time:
June – September
 
Growth Habit & Mature Size:
Perennial herb, 2–6 feet tall, with erect stems and opposite, toothed leaves covered in fine stinging hairs. Produces small, greenish, inconspicuous flowers in drooping clusters.
 
Light & Soil Requirements:
Full sun to partial shade; thrives in fertile, well-drained loam, sandy, or silty soils. Prefers consistently moist conditions but can tolerate seasonal wetness.
 
Willamette Valley Native Companion Plants:
Camassia leichtlinii, Tolmiea menziesii, Achlys triphylla, Sidalcea campestris, Festuca idahoensis.
 
Urban Garden Function:
Adds lush foliage and vertical structure to urban meadows, riparian gardens, and naturalized landscapes. Can be used in habitat gardens to support pollinators and wildlife, or in layered plantings for dense understory cover.
 
Wildlife Supported:
Flowers attract native bees and other pollinators. Dense foliage provides shelter for insects and small mammals. Caterpillars of certain butterfly species feed on the leaves.
 
Historical Use:
Used historically by Indigenous peoples for food, medicine, and fiber. Valued ornamentally for wildlife support, habitat creation, and its ecological role in nutrient-rich soils.