Urtica dioica – Stinging Nettle

A vigorous, upright perennial, spreading by rhizomes. Stems are covered with stinging hairs, a type of modified trichome, that breaks open like a syringe upon contact and injects formic acid. Contact with these hairs causes intense itching, usually of short duration. The plants can usually be handled comfortably with gloves or by the leaves, which often lack stinging hairs (see below). Young shoots are quick to emerge and can be gathered in late winter through late spring. The tender new growth at stem tips is harvested during the summer. They are a superb cooked vegetable, especially as an addition to soups or stews. Cooking quickly inactivates the stinging hairs, however adventurous foragers are known to eat them raw. In Dorset County, UK there is an annual Nettle Eating Contest where participants compete to eat as much raw Nettle as possible!

Nettle greens are unusually high in protein and vitamins, compared to most other leafy vegetables. The mature stems of Nettles also contain a strong fiber which has been used to make fabrics. Leaves can be fermented and used to create a compost tea. Pamela Jones, in the book Just Weeds, provides a recipe with this plant and Equisetum as an effective means of controlling Powdery Mildew. The plant has been demonstrated in companion plantings to increase the essential oil concentration of herbs grown nearby. The plant is attractive to many forms of wildlife. With a rich and lengthy history of medicinal use, the plant is still commonly employed in modern herbalism, folk healing, and Traditional Indigenous practices.

There are two subspecies of this plant found in Eastern North America – U. dioica ssp. gracilis and U. dioica ssp. dioica. The gracilis subspecies is native and can be differentiated by observing the flowers. Male and female flowers both occur on the gracilis subspecies, making it monoecious, whereas the non-native dioica subspecies is dioecious with male and female flowers occurring on separate plants. When not in flower, the gracilis subspecies can be identified by observing the stinging hairs. This subspecies tends to have fewer stinging hairs overall, and they are nearly absent from the leaves or sparsely present on the upper surfaces only.

These plants are known to spread, especially in carbon-rich garden soils. Consider incorporating a rhizome barrier to limit their spread, or planting them in an area away from where they may cause harm, and remove seed heads as they appear. Eating is a preferred method of control for this plant.

Plant in full to part sun. Prefers moist, well-drained soil. Tolerates most soil types.