What hardiness zones is Urtica dioica suitable for?

Urtica dioica is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

What are the sun requirements for Urtica dioica?

Urtica dioica requires Part Sun.

How much water does Urtica dioica need?

Urtica dioica has Medium water needs.

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Perennials

Urtica dioica

stinging nettle

Urticaceae

Pacific Northwest and broadly across temperate North America and Eurasia; moist nutrient-rich stream banks, forest edges, floodplains, and disturbed ground

At a Glance

TypePerennial

HabitUpright

FoliageDeciduous

Height3-9 feet (0.9-2.7 m)

Width24-48 inches (60-120 cm); spreads aggressively by rhizome

Maturity3 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

3 - 9

Zone 3

Zone 4

Zone 5

Zone 6

Zone 7

Zone 8

Zone 9

These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.

Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Butterflies

Deer Resistant

Native to North America

Maintenancelow

Overview

A tall, rhizomatous, deciduous perennial in the family Urticaceae, native to moist, nutrient-rich soils along stream banks, forest edges, floodplains, and disturbed ground across the Pacific Northwest and broadly across temperate North America and Eurasia. The specific epithet dioica means 'two houses' — referring to the European subspecies (ssp. dioica) having separate male and female plants; however, the native PNW subspecies (ssp. gracilis) is primarily monoecious, with both male and female flowers on the same plant. Plants grow 3–9 feet (0.9–2.7 m) tall from spreading rhizomes, forming dense colonies. The stems are four-angled and clothed, along with the leaves, in STINGING TRICHOMES — hollow, silica-tipped hairs that break on contact, injecting a mixture of histamine, formic acid, acetylcholine, and serotonin into the skin and producing an immediate sharp burning sting and welt lasting 30 minutes to several hours. Despite this defense, stinging nettle is one of the most ecologically and ethnobotanically important native PNW plants. The opposite, coarsely serrated, ovate to lance-shaped leaves 1.5–6 inches (4–15 cm) long with heart-shaped bases and long-pointed tips are covered in both stinging and non-stinging hairs. Dense clusters of inconspicuous greenish flowers hang in drooping catkin-like racemes from the leaf axils June–September. An essential larval food plant for West Coast lady (Vanessa annabella) and red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) butterflies — caterpillars feed exclusively on nettles. Young shoots cooked or dried lose all sting and are highly nutritious. Non-toxic when cooked.

Native Range

Native to moist, nutrient-rich stream banks, forest edges, floodplains, and disturbed ground across the Pacific Northwest and broadly across temperate North America and Eurasia.

Suggested Uses

Included in Pacific Northwest native habitat plantings specifically for butterfly larval support — stinging nettle is the exclusive larval food plant of West Coast lady (Vanessa annabella) and red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) butterflies in the PNW; a nettle patch is essential for maintaining these butterfly populations. Plant in a contained, out-of-the-way location away from pathways and children's play areas given the stinging hazard. Of exceptional educational significance: the stinging trichome mechanism, the distinction between native monoecious ssp. gracilis and European dioecious ssp. dioica, the butterfly-larval plant relationship, and the long history of Indigenous use for food and fiber (bark for cordage) make this one of the richest educational plants in the collection.

How to Identify

Identified by the STINGING TRICHOMES covering both stems and leaves — contact produces an immediate sharp burning sting and welt (hollow silica-tipped hairs inject histamine, formic acid, and acetylcholine). Dioica = 'two houses' (European ssp. dioica is dioecious; native PNW ssp. gracilis is monoecious). FOUR-ANGLED STEMS. Opposite ovate to lance-shaped leaves 1.5–6 inches with HEART-SHAPED BASES, pointed tips, and coarse serration. Drooping catkin-like racemes of tiny greenish flowers in leaf axils June–Sept. ESSENTIAL LARVAL FOOD PLANT for West Coast lady and red admiral butterflies. Young shoots edible when cooked or dried — sting destroyed by heat. Wear gloves when handling.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 9'

Width/Spread2' - 4'

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

green

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

yellow

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

SummerFall

Blooms June through September, producing dense clusters of tiny, inconspicuous greenish flowers in drooping catkin-like racemes 1–4 inches (2.5–10 cm) long hanging from the leaf axils. Wind-pollinated. The native PNW subspecies (ssp. gracilis) bears both male and female flowers on the same plant (monoecious). Seeds ripen August–October and are eaten by various birds. The flowers and foliage are the exclusive larval food of West Coast lady and red admiral butterfly caterpillars.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

tiny greenish; drooping catkin-like racemes in leaf axils; June–Sept; wind-pollinated; EXCLUSIVE LARVAL FOOD of West Coast lady + red admiral butterflies; young shoots edible when cooked/dried (sting destroyed); ALWAYS wear thick gloves — stinging trichomes; DATA CORRECTION: species null

Foliage Description

medium to dark green; opposite ovate to lance-shaped 1.5–6 inches; HEART-SHAPED BASES; coarsely serrated; STINGING TRICHOMES on stems and leaves — immediate painful burning and welts on contact; FOUR-ANGLED STEMS; dioica = 'two houses' (European ssp. dioecious; native PNW ssp. gracilis monoecious); aggressive rhizome spreader

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun

Partial Shade

Requires 3-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loamclaysilt

Drainage

moist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant in full sun to partial shade in moist to average, nutrient-rich, neutral to slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.5–7.5. Thrives in fertile, moist soils — often indicates high soil nitrogen. Spreads very aggressively by rhizome. ALWAYS wear thick gloves and long sleeves when handling — stinging trichomes cause immediate painful burning and welts. Young shoots in spring (before flowering) can be harvested, blanched, or dried for use as a nutritious cooked green. Cooking or drying destroys all sting.

Pruning

Cut stems to the ground in late fall or early spring. Sever rhizomes at the desired perimeter to manage aggressive spread. Wear thick gloves and protective clothing. Dead stems provide winter cover for insects and should be left where space allows.

Pruning Schedule

fallearly spring

Maintenance Level

low

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic