# Common hemp-nettle (*Galeopsis tetrahit*)

Common hemp-nettle is a lovely plant that grows in fields and gardens. It has soft, green leaves and pretty purple flowers that attract butterflies and bees.

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

![Common hemp-nettle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Galeopsis_tetrahit_bloemen2.jpg&width=800)

Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Galeopsis_tetrahit_bloemen2.jpg)

## Appearance

The Common hemp-nettle has square, hairy stems and pairs of broad, toothed leaves that resemble stinging nettles. Its small, tube-shaped flowers, often purplish-pink or white with darker spots, grow in dense clusters at the leaf axils.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Its 'hemp-nettle' name comes from its leaves looking like both hemp and stinging nettles!
- Some tiny insects like to hide inside the plant's unique tube-shaped flowers.
- The seeds have a yummy fatty 'lump' that ants love to carry away!
- This plant is a super-fast grower, often popping up in newly disturbed soil!

## Special abilities

- **Seed Slinger:** Common hemp-nettle can launch its seeds with a spring-like action, helping them spread far from the parent plant.
- **Nettle Mimic:** Common hemp-nettle has leaves shaped similarly to stinging nettles, which may deter some hungry animals.
- **Square Stems:** Common hemp-nettle has distinctly square, fibrous stems that provide strong support in crowded environments.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-100 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to early Autumn
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen
- **Pollinates:** White-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus lucorum*) — forages for nectar and pollen
- **Depends on:** European fire ant (*Myrmica rubra*) — carries seeds for dispersal
- **Eaten by:** Potato aphid (*Macrosiphum euphorbiae*) — sucks sap from stems

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [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.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

## Collections

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

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult, as some plants can be prickly.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Common hemp-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 hemp-nettle?

30-100 cm

### How big are the flowers on Common hemp-nettle?

1-2.5 cm

### When does Common hemp-nettle bloom?

Summer to early Autumn

### Is Common hemp-nettle edible?

No

### Is Common hemp-nettle toxic?

None

### What is Common hemp-nettle's lifecycle?

Annual

### How is Common hemp-nettle pollinated?

Insect

## 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 hemp-nettle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-hemp-nettle)