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.

Pflanzenratgeber

Stinging Nettle.

Urtica dioica

Aussprache ur-TI-ka dy-OH-ih-ka

Auch bekannt als 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.

Auf einen Blick

Pflegestufe: Einfach
Pflanzenart: Perennial herb
Licht: Partial shade to full sun
Licht im Innenraum: Hell, indirekt
Gießen: Alle 3 bis 7 Tage
Endgröße: 3 to 7 feet
Wachstum: Schnell
Winterhärte: USDA 3 bis 9
Blütezeit: Late spring to early autumn

Pflege

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.

Gießen: Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.
Düngen: Apply a balanced organic fertilizer during the active growing season.
Schneiden: Trim back stems to encourage bushier growth and prevent it from becoming too leggy.
Umtopfen: Repot when the roots fill the container or the plant becomes rootbound.
Boden: Rich, moist, well draining soil
Boden-pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperatur: -30 bis 35°C
Luftfeuchtigkeit: 40 bis 80%
Trockenheitstoleranz: Mittel
Lebensdauer: Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years
Wildverbiss-Resistenz: Hoch

Anzeichen fürs Umtopfen

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

Sicherheit

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

So erkennst du die Pflanze

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

Höhe: 0,6 bis 2m
Breite: 0,5 bis 1,5m
Blätter: dark green, deciduous
Blüten: green, white, 0,1 bis 0,3cm
Früchte: brown, Autumn

Häufige Probleme

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

Standort und Pflege

Vermehrung: division, seed, rhizome cuttings
Pflanzzeit: spring, autumn
Überwinterung: The foliage dies back to the ground in winter. Mulch the base if you live in a very cold climate to protect the rhizomes.
Im Kübel: 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.

Gute Pflanzpartner

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

Botanisches

Familie: Urticaceae
Gattung: Urtica
Ordnung: Rosales
Klasse: Magnoliopsida
Ursprüngliche Heimat: Temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
Artenschutz: 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.

Nutzen für Wildtiere: larval host plant, nectar source
Bestäuber: Bienen, Schmetterlinge, Nachtfalter
Verwendung: culinary tea, nutrient rich compost, fiber source, medicinal tincture

Im Jahresverlauf

JFMAMJJASOND

Blüte

Fruchtbildung

Laub

Ökologische Zeigerwerte

Salzgehalt: 2/9
Bodenreaktion: 6/9
Licht: 6/9
Temperatur: 5/9
Feuchtigkeit: 6/9
Nährstoffe: 8/9

Taxonomie abgeglichen mit GBIF.

Häufige Fragen

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.

Woher der Name kommt

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.

Gut zu wissen

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.

Auch in

Pflanzen, die Rehe meiden

Probleme mit Stinging Nettle?

Diese Seite bietet allgemeine Infos. Pocket Botanist erkennt Probleme anhand eines Fotos deiner echten Pflanze, passt das Gießen an dein Licht und deinen Standort an und erinnert dich an die Pflege.

App holen

Dieser Ratgeber wurde mit KI erstellt und mit der GBIF-Taxonomie abgeglichen. Er dient zur allgemeinen Information und ersetzt keine gärtnerische oder tierärztliche Beratung. Hier erfährst du, wie wir diese Ratgeber erstellen.