Urtica dioica

• Attributes:

  Genus:

  Urtica

  Species:

  dioica

  Family:

  Urticaceae

  Uses (Ethnobotany):

  The rootstock is used as a diuretic and as an herbal treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement) and other urinary disorders. Tea made from the leaves has been used to treat hay fever, diabetes, gout, and arthritis, and fresh stinging leaves are sometimes applied to arthritic joints in a process known as urtification, which is said to stimulate blood flow. Topical creams have also been developed for joint pain and various skin ailments, including eczema and dandruff.

  Life Cycle:

  Perennial

  Recommended Propagation Strategy:

  Division

  Seed

  Country Or Region Of Origin:

  Europe, Asia, Africa, western North America

  Distribution:

  AK, AL, AZ, CA , CO, CT, DC, DE, Fl, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA , MA , MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS , MT, NC , ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR , PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI , WV, WY Canada: AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NS, NT, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT

  Wildlife Value:

  This plant supports the following larvae: Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma), Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), Question Mark Butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis). Questionmark butterflies have an interesting life cycles: overwintered adult Question Mark butterflies lay eggs from spring until the end of May. These will appear as summer adults from May-September, laying eggs that then develop into the winter adult form. The winter adults appear in late August and shelter for the winter starting the cycle all over again. Adult Question Mark butterflies feed on rotting fruit, tree sap, dung, and carrion only visiting flowers for feeding when absolutely necessary. Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) rarely use this host plant in North Carolina.

  Edibility:

  Soak young shoots in warm water to remove dirt and debris. Do not use dish detergent or any type of sanitizer. These products can leave a residue. Place young shoots in boiling, salted water (with a pair of kitchen tongs) and boil for five minutes. Serve as a vegetable or add to soups. The stinging quality disappears after cooking.

  Dimensions:

  Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 9 ft. 0 in.

  Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.

• Whole Plant Traits:

  Plant Type:

  Edible

  Poisonous

  Habit/Form:

  Erect

  Growth Rate:

  Rapid

  Maintenance:

  High

  Appendage:

  Prickles

• Cultural Conditions:

  Light:

  Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)

  Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

  Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

  Soil Texture:

  Clay

  High Organic Matter

  Loam (Silt)

  Sand

  Soil Drainage:

  Good Drainage

  Moist

  Occasionally Wet

  Available Space To Plant:

  12 inches-3 feet

  3 feet-6 feet

  6-feet-12 feet

  NC Region:

  Coastal

  Mountains

  Piedmont

  USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:

  4a, 4b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

• Fruit:

  Fruit Color:

  Cream/Tan

  Gold/Yellow

  Display/Harvest Time:

  Fall

  Fruit Type:

  Achene

  Fruit Description:

  Produces small oval achenes with copious amounts of seeds.

• Flowers:

  Flower Color:

  Green

  White

  Flower Inflorescence:

  Insignificant

  Spike

  Flower Bloom Time:

  Spring

  Summer

  Flower Description:

  Tiny green or white flowers are borne in dense whorled clusters in the leaf axils and stem tips. Flowers are wind pollinated.

• Leaves:

  Leaf Color:

  Green

  Leaf Feel:

  Prickly

  Leaf Type:

  Simple

  Leaf Arrangement:

  Opposite

  Leaf Shape:

  Ovate

  Leaf Margin:

  Serrate

  Hairs Present:

  Yes

  Leaf Length:

  3-6 inches

  Leaf Width:

  1-3 inches

  Leaf Description:

  1”-6” simple opposite saw-tooth margin egg-shaped green leaves with a heart-shaped base and a pointed tip with hairs and stinging hairs.

• Stem:

  Stem Color:

  Green

  Stem Is Aromatic:

  No

  Stem Cross Section:

  Square

  Stem Surface:

  Hairy (pubescent)

  Stem Description:

  Wiry green stems fairly square and may bear stinging hairs, grow up to 9’ tall.

• Landscape:

  Landscape Location:

  Riparian

  Landscape Theme:

  Butterfly Garden

  Edible Garden

  Pollinator Garden

  Rain Garden

  Attracts:

  Butterflies

  Pollinators

  Problems:

  Contact Dermatitis

  Poisonous to Humans

  Problem for Children

  Spines/Thorns

  Weedy

• Poisonous to Humans:

  Poison Severity:

  Low

  Poison Symptoms:

  Intense burning and itching sensation lasting a few minutes from hairs on leaves and stems.

  Poison Toxic Principle:

  unknown

  Causes Contact Dermatitis:

  Yes

  Poison Part:

  Leaves

  Stems