In message , Jeff Layman
writes
robert wrote:
(snip)
A possible alternative that you may wish to consider for a woodland
setting would be Hedge Woundwort, Stachys sylvatica. Although it has
some similar characteristics of the stinging nettle it is not of the
same family. The reddish purple flowers are quite interesting and
attractive to bees. It has flourished in the wooded part of our
garden along with a variety of other native woodland/woodland edge
plants.

The main disadvantage of Hedge Woundwort is its awful smell when bruised.

We have a few plants that are deemed to have an unpleasant smell, the
woundwort, Helleborous foetidus and Iris foetidissima but the only time
we notice any pong is during any cutting back and even that is fleeting.
--
Robert