Annual Nettle
Urtica urens
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Pl. 8395 — Urtica urens
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IOverview
Overview
Annual Nettle (Urtica urens) is a light-loving, annual herb that typically grows to about 0.6 meters tall. Native to regions such as Albania, Algeria, Austria, and Belarus, this plant has spread widely across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It thrives in various soil types, including light sandy, medium, and heavy clay soils, with a preference for a pH range of 5.5 to 9.0. Annual Nettle is known for its edible leaves and shoots, which are often used in traditional post-meal comfort practices, though PlantSage does not recommend specific medical uses. This plant can be found growing in diverse habitats, making it a common sight in many parts of its native and introduced ranges. Its adaptability and widespread distribution highlight its ability to thrive in a variety of environments.
Quick answers
What is Annual Nettle?
Annual Nettle (Urtica urens) is a light-loving, annual herb that typically grows to about 0.6 meters tall. Native to regions such as Albania, Algeria, Austria, and Belarus, this plant has spread widely across Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
What is Annual 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 Annual Nettle
Clinicaluses · safety · chemistry · dosagemedicinal profile
IIBenefits & evidence
1 claim · traditional-use context
Benefits & evidence
1 claim · traditional-use contextTraditional-use context
These notes are presented as ethnobotanical context. No cited clinical references are catalogued for this plant yet.
- Traditional-use note: Annual 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·bMixology suggestions
1 draft
Mixology suggestions
1 draftEditorial drafts. These pairings are AI-suggested from traditional herbal lore. Always verify with a qualified herbalist before brewing.
Annual Nettle support blend
generaltea
AI returned a direct ingredient list; normalized into one draft blend for editorial review.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
VCultivation
Cultivation
Annual Nettle thrives in light to medium soil that is moist but well-draining, with a pH between 6.5 and 7. It prefers full sun to partial shade and grows up to 0.6 meters tall. For propagation, sow seeds directly into the garden bed in spring or early summer for an annual harvest of edible leaves and shoots. This plant is hardy in temperate regions and can be found naturally in many parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Light
7/10
Water
Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium, Heavy (clay)
Life cycle
Annual
Habit
Forb/herb
Mature size
0.6 m tall
Soil pH
6.5–7
Seasonal calendar
Northern hemisphere · UTC month is November
winterspringsummerautumnwinter
BloomJFMAMJJASOND
For first-time growers
How to grow Annual Nettle for the first time
7steps
Start with Annual Nettle as a simple, low-maintenance addition to your garden.
- 1
What you'll need
Seeds or young plants, a small trowel, and a watering can.
- 2
Best time to plant
Plant in spring after the last frost, when temperatures are mild.
- 3
Soil and container prep
Choose a spot with moist, light soil that is well-draining. Ensure containers have good drainage holes.
- 4
Sowing or transplanting
Direct sow seeds 0.5 cm deep in rows 30 cm apart. Alternatively, transplant young plants into the garden or pots.
- 5
First two weeks
Keep soil consistently moist and protect from strong winds until established.
- 6
Ongoing care
Water regularly to keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Mulch around plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- 7
Harvest or pruning
Prune back any leggy growth to encourage bushy foliage. Harvest young shoots for cooking in late spring.
VIEdible & utility
Edible & utility
Edible parts:LeavesShoots
Edible uses: Oil, Drink
Other uses:CompostDyeFiberHairAnimal feedoil
Contextrange · companions · related
VIIDistribution
74 native · 81 introduced
Distribution
74 native · 81 introducedDistribution across4 continents· 74 native· 81 introduced
Europe26 regions
native (23)AlbaniaAustriaBelarusBelgiumBulgariaCyprusDenmarkFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryItalyNetherlandsNorwayPolandPortugalRomaniaRussiaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandUkraine
introduced (3)IcelandIrelandUnited Kingdom
Asia9 regions
native (9)ChinaIranIraqKazakhstanKuwaitPalestineSaudi ArabiaTurkeyYemen
Americas8 regions
introduced (8)BoliviaColombiaCubaGreenlandGuatemalaPeruUnited StatesUruguay
Africa13 regions
native (9)AlgeriaEgyptEritreaEthiopiaLibyaMoroccoSomaliaSudanTunisia
introduced (4)KenyaLesothoNamibiaTanzania
Broader regions
native:Altay, Baltic States, Buryatiya, Czechoslovakia, East Aegean Is., Gulf States, Irkutsk, Kirgizstan, Krasnoyarsk, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Socotra, Transcaucasus, Turkey-in-Europe, Tuva, Yakutskiya, Yugoslavia
introduced:Alabama, Alberta, Amur, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Arizona, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, British Columbia, California, Cape Provinces, Chile Central, Chile North, Chile South, Connecticut, Falkland Is., Florida, Free State, Galápagos, Illinois, Juan Fernández Is., Khabarovsk, KwaZulu-Natal, Maine, Manitoba, Masachusettes, Massachusetts, Mexico Northwest, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New South Wales, New York, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Newfoundland, Norfolk Is., Northern Provinces, Nova Scotia, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Primorye, Prince Edward I., Québec, Queensland, Rhode I., Sakhalin, Saskatchewan, South Australia, South Carolina, South Georgia, St.Helena, Tasmania, Texas, Vermont, Victoria, Washington, Western Australia, Yukon
IXSpecimen gallery
1 image
Specimen gallery
1 imageXSee also
8 related
See also
8 relatedPlants you might compare or use together — scored by shared family, common use cases, and growing requirements.
shared use cases
Different families, similar therapeutic role — good for comparing.
XI
Explore further
Companion planting
Health goals
Compare with similar plants
XII
About this entry
- Last updated
- Citation
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