Urtica ferox (Ongaonga, nettle tree)

Ongaonga or nettle tree (Urtica ferox) is a stinging nettle from New Zealand, which possesses perhaps the most potent poison of all nettles.

It grows as a shrub approximately 1 to 3 meters tall with a trunk up to 12 cm thick, and all parts of the plant are covered with very large (up to 6 mm), conspicuous stinging hairs. The leaves are up to about 15 cm long and 5 cm wide and strongly toothed.

Like the native stinging nettle ( Urtica ), it belongs to the nettle family (Urticaceae), but its enormous stinging hairs cause much stronger and longer-lasting pain and subsequent numbness upon contact than our native nettles. Multiple stings can cause a very painful reaction. In high concentrations, it can also lead to restricted movement, paralysis, a drop in blood pressure, convulsions, visual disturbances, and confusion. It is probably the only contact-poisonous plant in the world whose direct toxic effects have already caused human fatalities. Two cases are known so far. However, in both cases, such a drastic effect required full-body contact with mature plants.

Ongaonga is certainly one of the most potent contact poisonous plants in the world. However, it is not only interesting because of its toxicity, but also, and especially, because of its long ethnobotanical history. This makes it a valuable addition to any serious collection of poisonous and medicinal plants. It should always be treated with great respect, and appropriate safety precautions should be taken when handling it.

You will receive a strong young plant in a 7 cm pot.