Common nettle

Urtica dioica

Urtica

Urticaceae

Native Plants

Zone 4–10

🐾 Pet-Safe

🌱 Beginner Friendly

Common nettle is extremely hardy and grows vigorously in moist, rich soil. Handle with gloves due to stinging hairs, but valued for its medicinal properties and as food for beneficial insects. Will self-seed readily if allowed to flower.

Care Requirements

Care Level

Low

Sun

Partial Shade

Water

Moderate

Growth Rate

Moderate

Mature Height

24″ – 60″

Soil

loam

Life Cycle

Perennial

Spacing

12″

Watering Schedule

Every 5-7 Days • Keep Soil Consistently Moist But Not Waterlogged

Soil pH

6.5 – 7

Temperature

-30° – 95°F

Mature Spread

up to 24″

Root Depth

Shallow

Foliage

Medium

Propagation: Seed

Ecology & Origin

Native to

Afghanistan

Alabama

Alaska

Albania

Algeria

Altay

Amur

Argentina Northeast

Assam

Austria

Baltic States

Belarus

Belgium

Bolivia

Brazil Northeast

Brazil South

Brazil Southeast

British Columbia

Bulgaria

Buryatiya

Attracts

🐝 Butterflies

🐝 Moths

Safety & Use

⚕ Medicinal

🐾 Pet-safe

Sources

Data: trefle, usda