Description
The plant has a long history of use as a source of medicine, food, and fibre.
Urtica dioica is a dioecious, herbaceous, perennial plant, 1 to 2 m (3 to 7 ft) tall in the summer and dying down to the ground in winter. It has widely spreading rhizomes and stolons, which are bright yellow, as are the roots.
The soft, green leaves are 3 to 15 cm (1 to 6 in) long and are borne oppositely on an erect, wiry, green stem. The leaves have a strongly serrated margin, a cordate base, and an acuminate tip with a terminal leaf tooth longer than adjacent laterals. It bears small, greenish or brownish, numerous flowers in dense axillary inflorescences.Plant Specifications
| Common Name | Jewelweed, nettle leaf |
| Maximum Reachable Height | 2 to 5 feet |
| Flower Colour | Orange to orange-yellow with red spotting |
| Bloom Time | June to September |
| Difficulty Level | Easy to grow |
Planting and care
Nettle seeds are tiny, light dependant germinators that can be started indoors or out. However, select your location carefully as nettles are very hardy and can spread quickly with the right conditions. Nettles can be assisted with stratification, but it is not necessary.
Stinging Nettles care
Nettle is an herbaceous, quick-growing plant whose leaves and stems are covered with tiny, hollow, silica-tipped hairs which can cause irritation. Can grow to a height of approximately 4 .
| Sunlight | Part shade to full shade |
| Watering | Medium to wet |
| Soil | Well-drained soil |
| Temperature | 30 degrees C |
| Fertilizer | Apply any organic fertilizer |
Stinging Nettles special feature
Moist shade or woodland gardens. Bog gardens. Native plant gardens. Pond or stream margins. Low spots.
Stinging Nettles uses
Ornamental Use:
- The plant is used for ornamental purpose
Medicinal Use:
- Stinging nettle root is also used for joint ailments, as a diuretic, and as an astringent
- Stinging nettle above ground parts are used along with large amounts of fluids in so-called irrigation therapy for urinary tract infections (UTI), urinary tract inflammation, and kidney stones (nephrolithiasis)