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Butterfly Garden

Need Information On False Nettle, Please

16 years ago

I located a nursery with false nettle. However, I already discovered from my mistake of buying passiflora that was not native that not all common names are what I need.

The gentlemen said that his false nettle is called Lamium and is of the mint family. I would like to raise red admirals, but dont know what type of false nettle they need.

The gentleman asked me to get the botanical name of the genius and species that I need as the host plant to see if he has the correct false nettle. Unfortunately, I forgot to get the genius and species he has and he is out to lunch now. I was going to go over on my lunch break if I can get the information I need.

I am sorry I am missing so much information here. That is what happens when you try to do things in a rush!

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Comments (6)

MissSherry
16 years ago
Lamium in the mint family is NOT a host for red admirals - I thought the common name for lamium was dead nettle.
Red admirals use boehmeria cylindrica/false nettle and stinging nettles. I'm glad you asked!
MissSherry
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gwynne2006
Original Author
16 years ago
Yes, I am glad I asked too. I had a feeling you would be right on top of this! I guess you need common names and not botanical names. Looking on the internet, I did see lamium listed as dead nettle, but this nursery calls it false nettle. However, he didnt want me to get the wrong one so he told me to get the information I need.

Thanks for the help. Er, where does one go about getting nettle/false nettle? Do nurseries sell it? Or is it only sold in certain states? Is it something I would have to send away for? I wonder if it is even hardy here. Since we have red admirals, one of their host plants must be around! I know Aggscott found nettle near the Poconos, so regular nettle grows somewhere here! And I think I saw a red admiral, so that would also indicate one of their host plants is in my area.

This is frustrating trying to locate host plants for these little critters!
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MissSherry
16 years ago
Stinging nettle probably grows somewhere in your area, maybe false nettle, too. I got mine from cuttings I took from some I found growing in a ditch near my house, but you can order the plants from several mail-order nurseries - two of those are Biophilia in Elberta, AL and Shady Oak Butterfly Farm in Florida.
MissSherry
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susanlynne48
16 years ago
I finally figured out the reason my False Nettle was not growing very well - too much sun (yeah, if you can imagine in these dark and dreary times in Oklahoma). I planted them in a bog garden in the backyard and they're doing much, much better.

The other FNs are in the front and so far, seem to be handling the sunnier location better than those I had in pots. We'll see. They are the ones that reseeded from last year's plant.

Susan
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gwynne2006
Original Author
16 years ago
Is it too late in the year to buy false nettle from a mail order nursery? I have already figured out the only way I am going to see most of these butterflies is to grow the host plant buy the larva off the internet.
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MissSherry
16 years ago
Shady Oak Butterfly Farm in Florida sells both false nettles and red admiral eggs, that is, when she has them in stock. You could check the website, make your order, and then Edith will e-mail you about whether or not she has RA eggs and what size plants she has available to sell.
I think Carol at Biophilia ships during the summer - you could e-mail her and see.
MissSherry
0

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