Ramie (Boehmeria nivea), known as China grass or white ramie, is a deciduous shrub native to thickets and forest margins across Asia. This upright plant grows 8 to 10 feet tall and equally wide, thriving in hardiness zones 7b through 9. Historically prized for the exceptional strength and quality of its textile fiber extracted from the inner bark, ramie has been cultivated for thousands of years; ancient Egyptians used it to weave mummy cloths as far back as 5000 to 3000 BCE. Today, gardeners grow it for both its horticultural presence and its remarkable fiber-producing potential in moderate-maintenance garden settings.
Partial Sun
Moderate
7-9
120in H x 120in W
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High
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Ramie belongs to the nettle family yet lacks the stinging hairs that define many of its relatives, making it safe to handle and brush against during garden work. The plant thrives in warm, rich, well-drained sandy soils in part shade, reaching 8 to 10 feet tall with a similarly expansive width. Its long history as a premium fiber source combined with its ornamental growth habit and minimal pest and disease pressure makes it a distinctive addition to gardens in warmer temperate zones.
Ramie is grown primarily for the textile fiber harvested from its inner bark. The stems are processed to extract long, strong fibers used in fabric production, yielding materials with qualities similar to linen but often finer and more lustrous. Gardeners and fiber enthusiasts cultivate ramie to supply traditional and contemporary textile arts, from hand-spinning to weaving projects. The plant's historical use in Egyptian mummification wrappings demonstrates its ancient role in ceremonial applications, though modern cultivation focuses almost entirely on fiber production for textiles.
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Prune ramie in spring after winter dormancy breaks to remove any cold-damaged stems and encourage a strong, upright form. Regular pruning promotes bushier growth and encourages the production of vigorous new stems, which is essential if you're growing the plant for fiber harvest. Shape the shrub as it grows to maintain a manageable size and density; ramie's natural height of 8 to 10 feet can be controlled through cutting back in late winter or early spring.
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“Ramie's story stretches back millennia. Archaeological evidence shows that ancient Egyptian civilizations, between 5000 and 3000 BCE, processed ramie fibers to create wrappings for mummified remains, revealing how valued this plant was even in antiquity. Native to thickets, forest margins, and roadsides across Asia, often in rocky terrain, the plant made its way to global cultivation as trade networks recognized the superior strength and fineness of its fiber. The common names China grass, white ramie, green ramie, and rhea reflect its widespread cultivation and regional adaptations across different continents, cementing its place as one of humanity's oldest fiber-producing plants.”