# common hedge-nettle (*Betonica officinalis*)

Common hedge-nettle is a lovely plant with pretty purple flowers. It grows in gardens and fields, attracting bees and butterflies that love its sweet nectar.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![common hedge-nettle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Betonica_officinalis_%287775493816%29.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Radio Tonreg from Vienna, Austria, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Betonica_officinalis_%287775493816%29.jpg)

## Appearance

The common hedge-nettle has distinctive square stems and crinkled, heart-shaped leaves that grow opposite each other. Its vibrant pink-purple flowers bloom in dense, upright spikes, making it visually different from stinging nettles as it lacks stinging hairs.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Lamiales
- **Family:** Lamiaceae
- **Genus:** Betonica

## Interesting facts

- Ancient Romans thought it could cure nearly 50 different ailments!
- Despite its name, this 'nettle' cannot sting you at all!
- It was once grown in gardens to ward off evil spirits and bad luck!
- Its beautiful purple flowers can be used to make a natural yellow dye!

## Special abilities

- **Nectar Beacon:** Common hedge-nettle produces sweet nectar that helps it attract many buzzing insect pollinators.
- **Super Stem Structure:** Common hedge-nettle has strong square stems that help it stand tall and sturdy, even in windy conditions.
- **Medicinal Magic:** Common hedge-nettle contains special compounds that help it defend against pests and has been used traditionally for healing.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-90 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-1.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Feeds on nectar, helping the plant reproduce.
- **Pollinates:** [Small Tortoiseshell](https://www.snappit.app/explore/small-tortoiseshell) (*Aglais urticae*) — Visits flowers for nectar, spreading pollen.
- **Eats:** Spanish Slug (*Arion vulgaris*) — Can graze on the plant's leaves and stems.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before picking any plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify common hedge-nettle?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is common hedge-nettle?

30-90 cm

### How wide does common hedge-nettle spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on common hedge-nettle?

1-1.5 cm

### When does common hedge-nettle bloom?

Summer

### Is common hedge-nettle edible?

Yes

### Is common hedge-nettle toxic?

None

### What is common hedge-nettle's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Common Hedge-nettle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-hedge-nettle)