# slender stinging nettle (*Urtica gracilis*) The slender stinging nettle is a tall plant with tiny, sharp hairs that can sting! It grows in many places and is important for butterflies and other insects. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![slender stinging nettle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Urtica_dioica_gracilis_%285107953864%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Urtica_dioica_gracilis_%285107953864%29.jpg) ## Appearance The slender stinging nettle is a tall, unbranched plant with long, narrow stems and serrated, heart-shaped leaves covered in fine, stinging hairs. Its inconspicuous greenish flowers form in dense clusters along the leaf axils, blending in with the foliage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Urticaceae - **Genus:** Urtica ## Interesting facts - Historically, nettle fibers were used to weave strong fabrics. - Its roots were once used to create a yellow dye. - Some people use nettle tea to help with allergies. - This plant's leaves are surprisingly rich in Vitamin K! ## Special abilities - **Sting Defense:** slender stinging nettle has specialized hollow hairs that inject an irritating cocktail, protecting it from herbivores. - **Rapid Regrowth:** slender stinging nettle can quickly sprout new shoots from its underground rhizomes, helping it recover from damage. - **Nutrient Magnet:** slender stinging nettle accumulates nitrogen from the soil, making nutrients more available for nearby life. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-150 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red Admiral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-admiral) (*Vanessa atalanta*) — larvae feed on the leaves - **Eaten by:** [Mourning Cloak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mourning-cloak) (*Nymphalis antiopa*) — caterpillars rely on nettle leaves - **Eats:** [Differential Grasshopper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/differential-grasshopper) (*Melanoplus differentialis*) — grazes on the foliage ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [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. - [Agricultural](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/agricultural): This human use trait describes species cultivated or domesticated by humans for agricultural purposes, including crops and livestock. - [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. - [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. - [Spiky/Thorny](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spiky-thorny): Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface. - [Toxic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/toxic): Toxic organisms contain substances that are poisonous and can cause adverse effects upon exposure. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Don't touch the leaves without asking an adult, as they can sting! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify slender stinging 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 slender stinging nettle? 30-150 cm ### How wide does slender stinging nettle spread? 30-60 cm ### When does slender stinging nettle bloom? Late spring to fall ### Is slender stinging nettle edible? Yes ### Is slender stinging nettle toxic? Mild ### What is slender stinging nettle's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is slender stinging nettle pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mitchell-park-horticultural-conservatory) — Wisconsin, US · Botanical Garden - [Stratton's Independence Mine and Mill](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/strattons-independence-mine-and-mill) — Colorado, US · Historic Site - [Cripple Creek Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cripple-creek-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Leach Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/leach-botanical-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Mohegan State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mohegan-state-forest) — Connecticut, US · Forest - [North Loop](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/north-loop) — Minnesota, US · Neighborhood [View all places to see slender stinging nettle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/slender-stinging-nettle) ## 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*) --- Source: [Slender Stinging Nettle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/slender-stinging-nettle)