Plant Details

Urtica dioica

Stinging nettle, California nettle

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Common names

87 names · 54 languages
EnglishYour language
  • big-sting nettle[1]
  • California nettle
  • common nettle[1]
+10 more namesShow fewer names
  • common stinging nettle[1]
  • European stinging nettle[1]
  • great nettle[1]
  • great stinging nettle[1]
  • large stinging nettle[1]
  • perennial nettle[1]
  • perennial stinging nettle[1]
  • Stinging nettle[1]
  • Swedish hemp[1]
  • tall nettle[1]
Other languages (53)
Dutch
  • Grote brandnetel[1]
French
  • Grande ortie[1]
  • Ortie dioïque[1]
Afrikaans
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • gewone brandnetel[1]
Arabic
  • قراص كبير[1]
Asturian
Basque
Belarusian
  • Крапіва двухдомная[1]
Bulgarian
  • Обикновена коприва[1]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 异株荨麻[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 異株蕁麻[1]
Croatian
  • Dvodomna kopriva[1]
  • Kopriva[1]
  • Obična kopriva[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Velika kopriva[1]
Czech
  • Kopřiva[1]
  • kopřiva dvoudomá[1]
Danish
Emilian Romagnol
Esperanto
Estonian
Faroese
  • tvíbýlisnota[1]
Finnish
Galician
  • Estruga maior[1]
German
  • Große Brennessel[1]
  • Große Brennnessel[1]
Greek
  • Τσουκνίδα[1]
Hungarian
  • Nagy csalán[1]
Ido
Ingush
Irish
Italian
Japanese
  • セイヨウイラクサ[1]
Kazakh
  • Қосүйлі қалақай[1]
Klallam
  • sčx̣áyč;[1]
Latvian
  • Lielā nātre[1]
Lithuanian
  • Didžioji dilgėlė[1]
Manx
  • Jinny nettle[1]
Mono
  • tunünuvüba[1]
Nahuatl
  • chichicaxtle[1]
  • âmōzōtl[1]
Norwegian
Ojibwe
Polish
  • Pokrzywa zwyczajna[1]
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
  • Крапива двудомная[1]
Serbian
  • Коприва[1]
Slovak
  • pŕhľava dvojdomá[1]
Slovenian
  • Velika kopriva[1]
Sotho
  • Babatsi, Bobatsi[1]
  • bobatsi[1]
Spanish
Swati
  • umbabazane[1]
Swedish
  • brännässla[1]
Tongva
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Кропива велика[1]
  • Кропива дводомна[1]
  • Кропива звичайна[1]
Welsh
  • danadl poethion[1]
Zeelandic
  • Broeinekel[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Urtica dioica — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • great stinging nettle — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • European stinging nettle — results[1].names[2]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Grote brandnetel — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • ortica — results[1].names[4]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • ortiga — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • ortiga — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Große Brennessel — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • chichicaxtle — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • quemadora — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • isonokkonen — results[1].names[10]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Grande ortie — results[1].names[11]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Ortie dioïque — results[1].names[12]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • brännässla — results[1].names[13]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • nokkonen — results[1].names[14]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • urtiga-comum — results[1].names[15]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Pokrzywa zwyczajna — results[1].names[16]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • kopřiva dvoudomá — results[1].names[17]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Kopriva — results[1].names[18]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Nokkoset — results[1].names[19]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Asun — results[1].names[20]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Kopřiva — results[1].names[21]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • kõrvenõges — results[1].names[22]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • nõges — results[1].names[23]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Nælde — results[1].names[24]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Urtiko — results[1].names[25]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Нитт — results[1].names[26]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Isırgan — results[1].names[27]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Broeinekel — results[1].names[28]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Didžioji dilgėlė — results[1].names[29]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Stor nælde — results[1].names[30]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Große Brennnessel — results[1].names[31]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Крапива двудомная — results[1].names[32]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Urtîga — results[1].names[33]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Stornesle — results[1].names[34]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Nagy csalán — results[1].names[35]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Обикновена коприва — results[1].names[36]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • brændenælde — results[1].names[37]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • urtiga — results[1].names[38]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • قراص كبير — results[1].names[39]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Jinny nettle — results[1].names[40]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • urtiko — results[1].names[41]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • zesab — results[1].names[42]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • pŕhľava dvojdomá — results[1].names[43]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • セイヨウイラクサ — results[1].names[44]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Obična kopriva — results[1].names[45]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Velika kopriva — results[1].names[46]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Dvodomna kopriva — results[1].names[47]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • âmōzōtl — results[1].names[48]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Τσουκνίδα — results[1].names[49]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • sachikili — results[1].names[50]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • 異株蕁麻 — results[1].names[51]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • 异株荨麻 — results[1].names[52]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Кропива звичайна — results[1].names[53]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Neantóg — results[1].names[54]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Estruga maior — results[1].names[55]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Urtigão — results[1].names[56]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • tvíbýlisnota — results[1].names[57]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Крапіва двухдомная — results[1].names[58]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • brandnekel — results[1].names[59]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • branneukel — results[1].names[60]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • gewone brandnetel — results[1].names[61]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Swedish hemp — results[1].names[62]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • common nettle — results[1].names[63]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • bobatsi — results[1].names[64]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • common stinging nettle — results[1].names[65]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • umbabazane — results[1].names[66]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • great nettle — results[1].names[67]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Brandnetel — results[1].names[68]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Babatsi, Bobatsi — results[1].names[69]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • large stinging nettle — results[1].names[70]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • sčx̣áyč; — results[1].names[71]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • perennial nettle — results[1].names[72]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Velika kopriva — results[1].names[73]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • perennial stinging nettle — results[1].names[74]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • tall nettle — results[1].names[75]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Lielā nātre — results[1].names[76]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Кропива дводомна — results[1].names[77]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Urzică — results[1].names[78]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Кропива велика — results[1].names[79]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • big-sting nettle — results[1].names[80]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Қосүйлі қалақай — results[1].names[81]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • danadl poethion — results[1].names[82]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Коприва — results[1].names[83]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • tunünuvüba — results[1].names[84]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Ortica comune — results[1].names[85]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.
  • Stinging Nettle — results[1].names[86]; taxon id 51884; Urtica dioica.

General information

Scientific name: Urtica dioica
Accepted name (Kew): Urtica dioica L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Urticaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Urtica (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Stinging nettle, California nettle
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.91–2.74 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Spread: 0.3–0.91 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [2]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Erect

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [2]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [2]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Wet

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [2]
Soil:
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [2]
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Dappled Sunlight, Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [2]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, kleur, Oil, Stems, Sap
Edibility rating:
(5)
Medicinal rating:
(5)
Functions:
Biomass production, Dye, Fibre, Oil, Repellent, Bee forage, Carbon farming

Description

Young nettle leaves are edible and can be added to dishes such as soup or dried for later use. They are very nutritious, rich in minerals, especially iron, and vitamins, particularly vitamins A and C. Only young leaves should be used, as older leaves can be toxic and have a laxative effect. When harvesting, it is important to wear gloves to avoid stings. Cooking or drying the leaves neutralizes the stinging hairs. The dried leaves can be used to make tea with a neutral taste. Additionally, the leaves can serve as a substitute for rennet in plant-based milk. Young nettle shoots are harvested in the spring when they are 15 to 20 cm long. From these shoots, nettle beer can be brewed. Nettle plants are also commercially harvested for chlorophyll, which is used as a green coloring agent (E140) in foods and medicines.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/05
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 174372; name ID 2446471; Urtica L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 171561; name ID 2448560; Urtica dioica L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Urtica dioica — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 9 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .