How do I stop the sting?

Cooking, drying, or blending the leaves destroys the stinging hairs completely.

Will it take over my garden?

Yes, it spreads aggressively through underground rhizomes and should be contained.

Guide botanique

Stinging Nettle.

Urtica dioica

Prononciation ur-TI-ka dy-OH-ih-ka

Aussi appelée California Nettle, Common Nettle, European Nettle, Giant Nettle, Nettle, Slender Nettle, Stinging Nettle

Stinging nettle is a hardy perennial known for its medicinal uses and distinct stinging hairs. It thrives in nitrogen rich soils and often grows in large colonies. You will find it in moist, shaded areas near streams or forest edges.

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien: Facile
Type de plante: Perennial herb
Lumière: Partial shade to full sun
Lumière en intérieur: Lumière vive indirecte
Arrosage: Tous les 3 à 7 jours
Taille adulte: 3 to 7 feet
Croissance: Rapide
Rusticité: USDA 3 à 9
Floraison: Late spring to early autumn

Entretien

Keep the soil consistently moist to mimic its natural damp habitat. Wear gloves when handling the plant to avoid the painful sting from its tiny hairs. Watch for wilting if the soil dries out too much.

Arrosage: Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.
Engrais: Apply a balanced organic fertilizer during the active growing season.
Taille: Trim back stems to encourage bushier growth and prevent it from becoming too leggy.
Rempotage: Repot when the roots fill the container or the plant becomes rootbound.
Sol: Rich, moist, well draining soil
pH du sol: 6.0 to 7.5
Température: -30 à 35°C
Humidité: 40 à 80%
Résistance à la sécheresse: Moyenne
Durée de vie: Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years
Résistance aux chevreuils et lapins: Élevée

Signes qu'il faut rempoter

Roots growing out of drainage holes
Stunted growth
Soil drying out too quickly

Sécurité

Humains: The plant is not toxic, but the stinging hairs cause immediate skin irritation and inflammation upon contact.
Animaux: This plant is generally considered non toxic to pets, but the stinging hairs can cause irritation if touched.
Enfants: Keep children away from patches to prevent painful stings on hands and legs.
Allergènes de contact: The stinging hairs contain chemicals that cause a painful, itchy rash on contact with skin.
Allergènes aéroportés: The fine pollen released in summer can trigger hay fever in sensitive individuals.
Comestibilité: Always cook or dry the leaves thoroughly to neutralize the stinging hairs before consumption.

Comment l'identifier

Opposite, serrated, heart shaped leaves
Stinging hairs on stems and leaves
Small, greenish, drooping flower clusters
Square stems characteristic of mint family

Hauteur: 0,6 à 2m
Envergure: 0,5 à 1,5m
Feuilles: dark green, deciduous
Fleurs: green, white, 0,1 à 0,3cm
Fruits: brown, Autumn

Problèmes courants

Aphids — Small sap sucking insects that cluster on the undersides of leaves.
Leaf spot — Fungal infections causing dark spots on foliage during wet weather.

La cultiver

Multiplication: division, seed, rhizome cuttings
Quand planter: spring, autumn
Hivernage: The foliage dies back to the ground in winter. Mulch the base if you live in a very cold climate to protect the rhizomes.
En pot: It grows well in containers, but use a large pot to accommodate the vigorous root system.

Division

1. Dig up a clump in early spring.
2. Use a sharp spade to divide the root mass.
3. Replant sections immediately in moist soil.

Seed

1. Collect seeds in late summer.
2. Sow on the surface of moist compost.
3. Keep in a bright spot until germination.

Plant in a dedicated patch away from walkways to avoid accidental stings.

Bonnes associations

Comfrey — Both plants are excellent for creating nutrient rich liquid fertilizers.
Menthe — They share similar moisture requirements and thrive in semi shaded areas.

Espèces similaires

Urtica urens — A smaller annual relative that also possesses stinging hairs.
Lamium album — Often confused with stinging nettle but lacks the stinging hairs and has different flowers.

Science

Famille: Urticaceae
Genre: Urtica
Ordre: Rosales
Classe: Magnoliopsida
Région d'origine: Temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
Préservation: This plant is common and widespread, requiring no special conservation status.

It thrives in nutrient rich, disturbed soils and often forms dense colonies that provide shelter for insects.

Intérêt pour la faune: larval host plant, nectar source
Pollinisateurs: abeilles, papillons, papillons de nuit
Utilisations: culinary tea, nutrient rich compost, fiber source, medicinal tincture

Au fil des saisons

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Floraison

Fructification

Feuillage

Repères écologiques

Salinité: 2/9
Réaction du sol: 6/9
Lumière: 6/9
Température: 5/9
Humidité: 6/9
Nutriments: 8/9

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

How do I stop the sting?: Cooking, drying, or blending the leaves destroys the stinging hairs completely.
Will it take over my garden?: Yes, it spreads aggressively through underground rhizomes and should be contained.

D'où vient le nom

The name Urtica comes from the Latin word for burn, referring to the sting, while dioica means two houses, noting the separate male and female plants.

Bon à savoir

Nettle fiber was historically used to make fabric similar to linen.
The stinging sensation is caused by silica tips breaking off in the skin.
Nettles are a classic indicator of nitrogen rich soil.
They are a vital food source for the caterpillars of several butterfly species.
Ancient Romans reportedly used nettles to treat rheumatism by whipping their skin.

Aussi dans

Plantes que les cerfs ne mangent pas

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Cette page est un guide général. Pocket Botanist diagnostique les problèmes directement à partir d'une photo de ta plante, adapte l'arrosage à sa luminosité et te prévient quand il faut t'en occuper.

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Ce guide a été généré par IA et vérifié avec la taxonomie du GBIF. Il s'agit d'informations générales, et non de conseils horticoles ou vétérinaires. Découvre comment nous concevons ces guides.