great stinging nettle
ExplorePlants
great stinging nettle
Urtica dioica
The great stinging nettle is a tall plant with green leaves that can sting you if you touch them! It grows in many places and is important for butterflies and other insects.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The great stinging nettle is a tall, upright plant with square-ish green stems and heart-shaped or oval leaves, all covered in tiny stinging hairs. It produces small, greenish-white flowers that hang in drooping clusters from late spring. Its vibrant green foliage often forms dense, lush patches.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRosalesFamilyUrticaceaeGenusUrtica
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
3/5 · Moderate
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Ancient people once wove surprisingly strong cloth from nettle fibers, just like linen!
Historically, people used cooked nettles as a healthy spring tonic or even medicine!
Where great stinging nettles grow tall, it often means the soil is super rich and healthy!
You can extract green or yellow dyes from nettle leaves to color fabrics naturally!
Special abilities
Ability
Sting Defender
The great stinging nettle has hollow, needle-like hairs on its leaves and stems that inject irritating chemicals to defend against munching animals.
Ability
Underground Spreader
The great stinging nettle can spread rapidly using underground stems called rhizomes, helping it colonize new areas and resist being pulled up.
Ability
Nutrient Magnet
The great stinging nettle can gather lots of nutrients, especially nitrogen, from the soil, allowing it to grow big and strong in rich environments.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 60-150 cm
- Spread
- 30-100 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.1-0.3 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to early fall
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Wind
Ecological connections
eaten by
Small Tortoiseshell
Aglais urticae
larvae feed on leaves
eaten by
Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta
caterpillars munch on leaves
eaten by
Snout Moth
Hypena proboscidalis
larvae feed exclusively on nettle
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Rapid Growing
Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
Spiky/Thorny
Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
3/5 · Moderate
Be careful not to touch the leaves, as they can sting your skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is great stinging nettle?
60-150 cm
How wide does great stinging nettle spread?
30-100 cm
How big are the flowers on great stinging nettle?
0.1-0.3 cm
When does great stinging nettle bloom?
Late spring to early fall
Is great stinging nettle edible?
Yes
Is great stinging nettle toxic?
Mild
What is great stinging nettle's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is great stinging nettle pollinated?
Wind
Snap Map
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