Urtica dioica (Stinging Nettle)

Plant Info
Also known as: California Nettle
Genus:Urtica
Family:Urticaceae (Nettle)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:native
Status:
  • Weedy
Habitat:shade, sun; moist fields, open woods, thickets, along shores, wet ditches
Bloom season:June - August
Plant height:1 to 6 feet
Wetland Indicator Status:GP: FAC MW: FACW NCNE: FAC
MN county distribution (click map to enlarge):Minnesota county distribution map
National distribution (click map to enlarge):National distribution map

Pick an image for a larger view. See the glossary for icon descriptions.

Detailed Information

Flower: Flower shape: indistinct Cluster type: spike Cluster type: whorled

[photo of flowers] Separate male and female flowers, usually on the same plant, both tiny and indistinct, creamy green to pinkish, clustered in the leaf axils typically along the entire stem. Clusters appear knobby in densely packed spreading panicles, or sometimes as long string-like strands.

Leaves: Leaf attachment: opposite Leaf type: simple

[photo of leaves] Leaves are opposite, elliptic to lance shaped, 3 to 6 inches long and ½ to 1½ inches wide, with a long taper to the sharply pointed tip, the base tapering to rounded. Leaves are often folded some lengthwise and arcing. Edges are sharply toothed, the veins prominently sunken on the upper surface and conversely raised below, the upper surface typically hairless, the lower surface smooth, minutely hairy, or with sparse stinging hairs.

[photo of stinging hairs] The leaf stalk is sparsely covered with bristly, stinging hairs with a pair of small, lance-like leafy appendages (stipules) attached at the leaf node, sometimes with smaller leaves in the axils. Stems are erect, occasionally branched in the lower plant, squarish in cross section, mostly hairless, or sparsely covered in stinging hairs, or with a mix of fine downy hairs and sharp stinging hairs.

Fruit: Fruit type: seed without plume

[photo of fruit] Fruit is a flattened oval to egg-shaped seed, less than 1/16 inch long, One plant can produce thousands of seeds.

Notes:

Few species announce their presence more quickly to unwary outdoor explorers, the sharp stinging hairs causing an immediate burning sensation upon contact with bare skin. Unlike poison ivy that can cause painful blistering and intense itching for weeks afterward, Stinging Nettle rarely produces a blistery rash and the worst of the uncomfortable sting typically diminishes within a few hours. Seasoned explorers will tolerate it as a minor outdoor hazard in situations where contact is unavoidable. Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis), found in large colonies in moist woods along streams and in flood plains is similar, if not worse in contact, but is easily distinguished by its broadly oval shaped leaves. Stinging Nettle has a long history of medicinal and culinary use. There are 3 subspecies recognized in North America: subsp. dioica, native to Europe and mostly found on the east and west coasts, subsp. holosericea, native to the western U.S., and subsp. gracilis, native to most of North America and the subspecies found in Minnesota.

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More photos

Photos by K. Chayka taken in Anoka, Pope and Ramsey counties. Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in Ramsey County.

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Rebecca - Saint Cloud
on: 2011-07-27 16:27:41

little patch in our back yard is spreading a bit and new patches are cropping up in various spots in our yard.

Posted by: John - South Lake Minnetonka, Hennepin County
on: 2011-08-14 11:44:38

We live in a mature Maple/Basswood forest on the south shore of Lake Minnetonka. The weed is widely distributed in our neighborhood, making up a large portion of the understory. Vigorous grower, and painful stings! The kids know it as itch weed, it raises small bmps that itch terribly.

Posted by: Stephanie - Oakdale - Washington Co
on: 2011-09-06 16:01:07

I have this all over my yard in various places. It seems to love to grow up under the Hosta. Swamp land in the front yard. Oddly, it doesn't bother me as far as a reaction, which I guess is good being I pull so much of it through out the year.

Posted by: Pat - Pillager
on: 2011-12-04 21:25:30

I have this growing all over. Is there anything good about Stinging Nettle? Or maybe it protects other plants from grazing herbivores?

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2011-12-05 10:57:44

While there may be some human uses for stinging nettle and it's a major butterfly host plant in its native Europe, it has little wildlife value here. It's a weed.

Posted by: kc - Oakdale
on: 2012-03-14 01:24:35

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinging_nettle There are MANY thing you could do with this plant, I wish I had them in my backyard.. they seem interesting as heck.

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2012-03-14 11:59:20

kc, feel free to harvest them from any "natural area" infestation (as it's an "unnatural" plant). Just don't tell anyone I told you to do it. ;)

Posted by: Victoria - Braham MN
on: 2012-08-30 18:22:07

I found this growing at Dennis Frandsen Park in Braham MN. Medical properties of this plant include pectoral, diuretic, astringent, tonic, styptic, rubefacient. This herb is used for kidney troubles. It will expel gravel from the bladder and increase urine flow. Splendid for neuralgia. The tea increases menstrual flow. For diarrhea, dysentery, piles, hemorrhages, hemorrhoids, gravel, and inflammation of the kidneys.

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2013-03-03 11:06:21

Well, now, after a bit more research it seems that stinging nettle is a native species after all. The DNR lists it as "introduced" on their big list-o-plants but that must be a typo. All other references say it's native.

Posted by: Jessica - Brainerd
on: 2013-03-10 22:54:26

It's good to eat, too! Just have to cook it first to neutralize the stinging quality of it. And since it's pretty easy to identify (at least in MN) that helps the likelihood of misidentification pretty minimal, since it stings you and all.

Posted by: Frank - Saint Paul
on: 2013-08-30 22:35:29

Plants in the nettle family are host plants for the caterpillars of the Red Admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta), which is why we tolerate stinging nettles in our backyard.

Posted by: Nancy - West St. Paul
on: 2014-07-01 22:21:30

We have these in our backyard. They seem to like shade-under the lilac hedges, pine trees, and hosta. My husband and I both react pretty strongly-I get a bumpy rash that lasts 2-3 days!

Posted by: Laura - Plymouth
on: 2014-09-08 16:38:54

I, too, let these grow wild in my butterfly garden, since they are host plants for the Red Admiral as mentioned above. I think they are an attractive plant. They do sting a little, though.

Posted by: Jesse - Rosemount
on: 2015-08-03 23:36:46

Got plenty of stinging nettle here in Rosemount. I ripe it out, chop it down, spray it with unearthly chemicals and it still comes back. Same with poison sumac and whatever else is bothersome. Sure it may be beneficial but you won't find me eating that crap. Just happy that whatever irritates my skin its kryptonite is usually not to far from the plant/weed that caused it.

Posted by: Maureen C. - Lakeville, MN
on: 2016-04-26 08:05:50

I just discovered my first patch (as I do every year). It is growing around my lilac bushes. I live on the edge of woods and near a pond. I used to rip it out, but since I have learned that the Red Admiral Butterfly lay their eggs on it, I am keeping it around. The butterflies and bees need all the help they can get.

Posted by: Sue L - Mpls
on: 2017-06-30 17:25:51

I get a strong skin irritation from nettle, but can aleiviate the sting with a poultice of plantain leaves, which are plentiful in my lawn : )

Posted by: Stephanie - WASHBURN, WI
on: 2017-07-02 09:51:53

On our property in Northern Wisconsin we have a plant that... by all accounts, is nettle. All features are as described here, and I'm familiar enough with the plant to know it when I see it. However, this is much taller than the nettle I've interacted with (nearly 5')... with woodier stems and little to no sting in the taller plants. The young growth does sting some once it reaches 3" or more... the seedlings have plenty of hairs but don't sting at all. Anyone have any experience to share?

Posted by: John H - Victoria
on: 2017-07-26 20:07:27

Grabbed it and pullled and got immediate sting. Still hurts after 4 hours with skin feels like surface is paralyzed. Interestingly enough, the tough skin on finger hurts worse than the tender areas between fingers. Tried vinegar, bicarb soda, coconut oil with no change. I would rub on benadryl if I had any. Wife got same reaction a month ago and it lasted 24 hours then stopped.

Posted by: Mike C - Woodbury MN
on: 2017-07-29 19:05:45

Just had an unintentional encounter in my garden. Single plant in a damp soil environment surrounded by spirea. Yanked it out with my bare hands and immediately got stung on the palms and webs of both hands. Forgot to wear my gloves as I usually do☹️. Immediately washed with soap and water. 2+ hours later it just feels like needles and pins in both hands. No blisters yet 🙂

Posted by: Maureen C. - Lakeville
on: 2017-09-06 11:29:44

I have stinging nettle in various parts of my yard. There is quite a bit of it this year. In the spring, I pick the leaves and steep them in hot water for a wonderful tasting tea/elixir. It is very refreshing and energizing. You can use the leaves to make nettle soup. The leaves are as nutritious and delicious as spinach. Right now, in September, I have tons of red admiral butterflies fluttering around my yard. This is due to them using the stinging nettle as a host plant. Now that I've learned what stinging nettle looks like, I do not touch it or if I need to pull it, I wear heavy duty gloves. It is definitely a very useful plant!

Posted by: Kenny h - Mower county Shooting Star Trail
on: 2017-09-15 06:05:24

I am confused...if the sub species found in Mn. is gracilis...why does page headline read Urtica dioica...Shouldnt it say Urtica gracilis???

Posted by: Kenny h - Mower county Shooting Star Trail
on: 2017-09-15 06:34:22

No confusion any more...I think...Urtica dioica sub species gracilis

Posted by: Gregory D - Chisago City
on: 2018-01-30 14:28:57

I've been showing people for over 40 years, how to find curled dock, which usually grows right next to nettles, smash a leaf and rub it on the itch, which then goes away. Got it from Eule Gibbons.

Posted by: Gary - Carlton County
on: 2019-02-14 19:49:45

I have this plant under "cultivation" in one of my vegetable gardens and have also deliberately encouraged it in others along their edges. Stinging nettle is edible when young (steam the tender new shoots) and the older plants are larval hosts for species of butterfly such as red admiral and Milbert's tortoiseshell.

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2019-02-14 20:03:18

We've eaten the young shoots in spring. Not bad.

Posted by: Bill - Grant
on: 2019-05-19 10:21:03

I have this all over my several acres too. Am prepping for sowing a pollinator seed mix in the near future. Above comments indicate that this plant has ecological value but based on how prolific it is, I fear it will upset my new community and ought to at least be reduced if not removed. Any thoughts?

Posted by: Lois Parsons - Nevis township
on: 2019-08-02 07:29:51

Along the lakeshore. I don't like it.

Posted by: Tim - North Shore
on: 2019-08-10 13:49:06

So maybe the bugs eating the leaves of mature plants are butterfly larvae. Nettles are good to eat. Steam, dry or freeze to inactivate the sting. Interchangeable with spinach or kale in most recipes. Try sweet potato nettles coconut milk ginger lime juice.

Posted by: Amy - St. Paul
on: 2020-04-09 20:56:51

This is one of the most nutritious and medicinal plant in the world.

Posted by: Heidi - Anoka County, Coon Lake
on: 2020-05-20 22:47:20

My patch is expanding. Interestingly, it is closely associated with the milkweeds I encourage...as shown in the 6th picture of the leaves, above. Is this association symbiotic?

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2020-05-21 12:57:29

Heidi, I've never heard of any special relationship between stinging nettle and milkweeds. Stinging nettle grows pretty much anywhere that has moist soil and some of the milkweeds also grow in moist soils. When they're together I imaging it's more coincidence than anything else.

Posted by: Bill - Grant
on: 2020-07-30 20:49:48

Anyone try eating these plants beyond spring season? If so, what was your experience?

Posted by: Ellen S. - Edina (Hennepin County)
on: 2020-09-29 09:32:25

We have these in our vegetable gardens this year, which would make it impossible to harvest. My advice for removing them is to wear a leather jacket, boots, and all-leather gloves if you can - the stings penetrate cloth but not leather. Even leather-palmed gloves are better than all-cloth. After carefully tearing them out and putting them in a bag, I got the spade and dug up the roots. If you are stung, this website is good advice:
https://www.wikihow.com/Treat-a-Sting-from-a-Stinging-Nettle

That procedure saved me days of pain. Also, once most of it was off me I took a nail-clipper and cut open the remaining painful bumps to drain the poison. Next day, the pain and itch are all gone! Maybe they're edible, but I won't try cooking something I can't safely touch.

Posted by: LeAnn Plinske - Baxter
on: 2020-10-12 11:45:36

I photographed a patch in an extensive pollinator field created by Rotary Club in Brainerd near the Mississippi River bottoms, and ID'ed by iNaturalist. Looked to be in the middle of lots of other plants, so human contact seems unlikely.

Posted by: Elizabeth therkilsen - New Hope
on: 2021-08-14 09:37:19

Never came across it in my yard until this year, and only in my raised strawberry bed. How are the seeds spread? (Birds?)

Posted by: Lisa - Pine
on: 2021-08-16 18:02:06

Nettle extract made from chopped up and submerged plants in a covered pail of water is super fertilizer for mid-season garden annuals and perennials. Cover pail, as it's stinky when fermented! Source: all the gardening shows on Britbox.

Posted by: Suzette Kath - Cloquet
on: 2022-07-23 16:56:20

When I lived in Coon Rapids, MN, there was a large field of it not far from where I used to live. It was torn out to put a housing development there. One of borders was Hwy 10.

Posted by: Rosemary Naastad - Bemidji
on: 2022-07-26 08:55:48

I have used stinging nettles for year to make a tea to combat the effects of poison ivy also to combat the sting from the plant itself.

Posted by: Kate - Woodbury
on: 2024-05-23 21:13:18

Nettle is a very renewable resource that can be used in textiles. I am a spinner and the bast fiber from the stalks of nettle can be spun into yarn in a similar way to flax. It can then be woven into cloth.

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