Urtica dioica

RHS Plant Profile
common stinging nettle

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common stinging nettle visionspictures.com
common stinging nettle visionspictures.com
common stinging nettle RHS

Other common names

great nettle, stinger, stinging nettle

Herbaceous Perennial

A herbaceous perennial with spreading roots and creeping horizontal stems able to form large, patches of upright stems, to 1.5m tall, with dark green foliage. Leaves and stems are covered in stinging and non-stinging hairs. Cream or brownish-green, catkin-like flowers are produced from the leaf axils from late spring to early autumn

Position

Full shade, Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
2.5-4 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full shade Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Urticaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming, Matforming
Potentially harmful
Skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets (dogs): Harmful if eaten and via skinskin/eye irritant - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus
A genus of annual or perennial flowering plants with arrow-shaped, serrated green foliage and small clusters of greenish-brown flowers. Many species have stinging hairs on the leaves. The foliage can be used for making tea and for medicinal purposes, and the plants provide valuable food and shelter for wildlife
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Cosmopolitan

How to Grow

Cultivation

May be planted for wildlife value and thrives in nitrogen-rich, moist but well-drained soil in a sunny position, but will grow almost anywhere. Self-seeds freely and can be difficult to control or eradicate, but is an important source of food for caterpillars and butterflies. See stinging nettles for further advice

Propagation

Spreads naturally by spreading roots and horizontal stems, and by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Wildlife gardens

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free