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Stinging Nettle

Urtica californica
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Urtica californica (Stinging Nettle) — botanical photograph
Pl. 355D — Urtica californica
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I

Overview

Stinging Nettle (Urtica californica) is a perennial herb native to the western and northern regions of North America, including states like Alabama, Alaska, and British Columbia, as well as parts of Canada such as Quebec and Ontario. Known for its edible leaves and shoots, this plant thrives in moist, light to heavy soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7. Its distinctive features include fine hairs that release stinging chemicals when touched, making it important to handle carefully. Found across a range from hardiness zone 3 to 10, the stinging nettle can grow up to 1.8 meters tall, adding both ornamental value and culinary interest to gardens and natural landscapes.

Quick answers

What is Stinging Nettle?

Stinging Nettle (Urtica californica) is a perennial herb native to the western and northern regions of North America, including states like Alabama, Alaska, and British Columbia, as well as parts of Canada such as Quebec and Ontario.

What is Stinging Nettle used for?

Traditionally used for digestion. Each claim is evidence-rated — see Section II for full citations.

Best for
Top 1 evidence-ranked use of Stinging Nettle
Jump to full evidence →
Clinicaluses · safety · chemistry · dosagemedicinal profile
II

Benefits & evidence

1 claim · traditional-use context
Traditional-use context
These notes are presented as ethnobotanical context. No cited clinical references are catalogued for this plant yet.
  • Traditional-use note: Stinging Nettle appears in herbal sources around after-meal comfort traditions, often as a tea. PlantSage presents this as ethnobotanical context, not as medical advice.

    Traditional context only. This reviewed claim keeps the original low confidence level, but avoids treatment, disease, dosage, or guaranteed-effect language.

    ▲ LimitedDigestion →
IV·b

Mixology suggestions

1 draft
Editorial drafts. These pairings are AI-suggested from traditional herbal lore. Always verify with a qualified herbalist before brewing.
Stinging Nettle support blend
general
tea
AI returned a direct ingredient list; normalized into one draft blend for editorial review.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
V

Cultivation

Stinging nettle thrives in moist conditions and prefers light (sandy), medium, or heavy (clay) soils. It is hardy in temperate regions from zones 3 to 10. This perennial grows up to 1.8 meters tall and can be propagated by division or seed. For best results, plant it in a location that receives partial shade to full sun. Ensure the soil pH is between 6.5 and 7 for optimal growth. Harvest edible parts such as leaves and shoots when young for use in cooking.
Light
5/10
Water
Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium, Heavy (clay)
Hardiness
3-10
Life cycle
Perennial
Habit
Forb/herb
Mature size
1.8 m tall
Soil pH
6.5–7
For first-time growers

How to grow Stinging Nettle for the first time

7steps

Start with a simple, low-maintenance approach to growing Stinging Nettle.

  1. 1

    What you'll need

    A packet of Urtica californica seeds or young plants, gloves, and a trowel.

  2. 2

    Best time to plant

    Plant in early spring or late fall when the soil is moist but not waterlogged.

  3. 3

    Soil and container prep

    Choose a location with partial shade and well-draining soil. Ensure containers are at least 30 cm deep.

  4. 4

    Sowing or transplanting

    Direct sow seeds 1-2 cm deep, spacing them about 30 cm apart. Transplant young plants in the same distance.

  5. 5

    First two weeks

    Keep soil consistently moist and mulch lightly to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

  6. 6

    Ongoing care

    Water regularly, especially during dry spells, and fertilize with compost once a month. Pinch back shoots to encourage bushy growth.

  7. 7

    Harvest or pruning

    Prune in early spring before the plant flowers for maximum leaf production. Remove spent flower heads to promote new growth.

VI

Edible & utility

Edible parts:LeavesShoots
Edible uses: Drink
Other uses:CompostDyeFiberHairAnimal feed
Contextrange · companions · related
VII

Distribution

149 native · 51 introduced
Distribution across4 continents· 149 native· 51 introduced
Europe25 regions
native (25)AlbaniaAustriaBelarusBelgiumBulgariaDenmarkFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIcelandIrelandItalyNetherlandsNorwayPolandPortugalRomaniaRussiaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandUkraineUnited Kingdom
Asia16 regions
native (15)AfghanistanChinaGeorgiaIndiaIranIraqJapanKazakhstanMongoliaNepalPakistanSouth KoreaTurkeyTurkmenistanUzbekistan
introduced (1)Georgia
Americas7 regions
native (1)United States
introduced (6)BoliviaColombiaEcuadorGreenlandGuatemalaUnited States
Africa5 regions
native (3)AlgeriaMoroccoTunisia
introduced (2)EritreaLibya
Broader regions
native:Alabama, Alberta, Altay, Amur, Arizona, Baltic States, British Columbia, Buryatiya, California, Chita, Colorado, Connecticut, Czechoslovakia, Delaware, East Aegean Is., East Himalaya, Føroyar, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Irkutsk, Kamchatka, Kansas, Kentucky, Khabarovsk, Kirgizstan, Krasnoyarsk, Kriti, Labrador, Lebanon-Syria, Louisiana, Magadan, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Newfoundland, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northwest Territorie, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Primorye, Prince Edward I., Québec, Rhode I., Sakhalin, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Tadzhikistan, Tennessee, Texas, Transcaucasus, Turkey-in-Europe, Tuva, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Himalaya, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yakutskiya, Yugoslavia, Yukon
introduced:Alabama, Argentina Northeast, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, British Columbia, California, Cape Provinces, Chile Central, Chile South, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Falkland Is., Florida, Maine, Maryland, Masachusettes, Michigan, Missouri, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Newfoundland, North Carolina, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Prince Edward I., Québec, Svalbard, Tennessee, Tristan da Cunha, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia
IX

Specimen gallery

1 image
Urtica californica (Stinging Nettle) — botanical photograph
Stinging Nettle (Urtica californica)
X

See also

8 related
XI

Explore further

Growing zone
Native to
XII

About this entry

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