Urtica dioica (common or stinging nettle)

The common or stinging nettle is one of the British Isles most widespread and successful plants. It is characteristic of damp, nutrient-rich soils, but can colonise a wide range of other habitats.

Our ancestors used nettles as

food
for fibre
in medicine

and some of these uses are being revived today. In the British Isles it was widely thought that beating limbs with nettles would relieve rheumatic pains. At present research is being carried out into the use of nettles to cure arthritis.

Species detail

The common, or stinging, nettle is

a herbaceous plant
dark green leaves
inconspicuous flowers
abundant stinging hair

Taxonomy

Discover more about the characteristic features of the common or stinging nettle.
Distribution, habitat and ecology

The common, or stinging nettle is one of the British Isles most widespread and successful plants. Find out more about the habitats in which the stinging nettle thrives.
Uses

Stinging nettles have been used as food, for textiles and as medicine. Discover more about the way nettles were used and how some of these practices are being revived today.