Nettles Monograph

Nettles 

Urtica dioica

Quick Reference

Common names: stinging nettle, common nettle
Latin name: Urtica dioica
Plant family: Urticaceae (nettle family)
Parts used: leaves (young growth), roots, seeds
Primary actions: nutritive tonic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antihistamine, hemostatic
Best preparations: infusion (tea), tincture, cooked food, freeze-dried capsules
Safety rating: extremely safe once cooked or dried
Grown at Wild Clover Farm: yes — vigorous perennial patch

Botanical Description and Identification

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is one of the most nutritious and medicinally valuable plants available. Though feared for its sting, nettle becomes a gentle, nourishing herb once properly handled and processed. It has been used as both food and medicine for thousands of years across many cultures.

Plant Characteristics

Leaves:
Leaves grow in opposite pairs along the stem and are ovate to lance-shaped with pointed tips and deeply serrated margins. They measure 2 to 6 inches long and are dark green above, paler beneath. Leaves are covered with fine stinging hairs and have prominent veins.

Stems:
Stems are upright, square in cross-section, and covered with stinging hairs. Plants typically grow 3 to 7 feet tall and are hollow when mature.

Flowers:
Small, greenish flowers appear in drooping clusters from the leaf axils. Flowers are not showy and are wind pollinated. Bloom occurs from late spring through summer.

Roots:
Nettles spread by creeping rhizomes, forming dense colonies. Roots are yellow-brown, fibrous, and deep, allowing the plant to access minerals unavailable to shallow-rooted species.

Seeds:
Tiny, oval seeds form in abundance in late summer and fall. Seeds are edible and highly nutritious.

The Sting

The sting is caused by tiny hollow hairs (trichomes) that inject histamine and other compounds when touched. The sting causes burning and itching that usually subsides within 30 to 60 minutes.

The sting is completely neutralized by:

• cooking
• drying
• crushing or blending

Once processed, nettles are safe to handle and consume.

Identification Notes

Key identifying features include:

• opposite leaves
• deeply serrated margins
• square stems
• drooping flower clusters
• distinctive sting

Look-alikes such as dead nettle (Lamium species) do not sting and have showy flowers. Wood nettle (Laportea canadensis) also stings but has alternate leaves.

Native Range and Habitat

Nettles are native to Europe, Asia, North Africa, and parts of North America and are now naturalized worldwide. They thrive in nitrogen-rich, moist soils and commonly grow near human habitation.

Typical habitats include:

• forest edges
• stream banks and ditches
• fence lines and old homesteads
• gardens and compost areas

Nettles indicate fertile, mineral-rich soil.

Growing Nettles

Climate and Growing Conditions

Nettles grow in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 10.

Sunlight:
Full sun to partial shade.

Soil:
Rich, moist, nitrogen-heavy soil is ideal, though nettles tolerate a wide range of soil types.

Water:
Consistent moisture is preferred. Nettles are not drought tolerant.

Temperature:
Cold hardy and resilient.

Propagation

From seed:
Seeds germinate best with cold stratification. Sow in fall or stratify before spring planting.

By division:
Root division is the easiest and most reliable method. Any root fragment with a growth node can produce a new plant.

Spacing:
Plant 12 to 18 inches apart. Plants will quickly fill in to form a dense patch.

Care and Maintenance

• Choose location carefully; nettles spread aggressively
• Harvest regularly to encourage tender regrowth
• Cut back after harvest for multiple flushes per season
• Contain spread with mowing or barriers if needed

Nettles have few pest or disease issues.

Harvesting Nettles

Leaves

Best time:
Early spring when plants are 6 to 12 inches tall and before flowering.

Method:
Wearing gloves, cut the top 4 to 8 inches of growth. Later in the season, harvest only the tender tops.

Roots

Best time:
Fall or early spring from mature plants.

Seeds

Best time:
Late summer to fall when seed clusters turn brown.

Drying and Storage

Leaves:
Dry on screens or in bundles in a warm, dark, well-ventilated space until crisp. Once fully dry, nettles no longer sting.

Storage:
Store dried leaves in airtight containers away from light and heat. Shelf life is one to two years.

Traditional and Modern Uses

Nettles are a premier nutritive herb and spring tonic.

Primary Uses

• Provides exceptional mineral and vitamin content
• Supports allergy relief and histamine balance
• Reduces systemic inflammation
• Acts as a gentle, mineral-rich diuretic
• Supports kidney and urinary health
• Builds blood and supports anemia recovery
• Supports hair, skin, and nails
• Traditionally used for prostate health (root)

Nettles are suitable for long-term daily use.

Energetics and Traditional Classification

• Temperature: cool
• Moisture: dry
• Taste: salty, slightly bitter
• Tissue affinities: blood, kidneys, joints, skin
• Energetic indications: deficiency, dryness, inflammation, allergic reactivity

Nettles are traditionally classified as a nutritive alterative, restoring depleted tissues and gently supporting detoxification. They are especially indicated in conditions of deficiency, chronic inflammation, and allergic tendencies.

Primary Herbal Actions

• Nutritive: supplies minerals and trace nutrients
• Alterative: supports gradual detoxification
• Anti-inflammatory: reduces chronic inflammation
• Diuretic: supports kidney and urinary function
• Antihistamine: reduces allergic response
• Hemostatic: traditionally used for bleeding

Preparation Methods

Nettle Infusion

Prepared as a long-steeped infusion to extract minerals. Drink one to three cups daily for nourishment.

Nettle Tincture

Used for allergies, inflammation, and nutritive support.

Culinary Use

Cooked nettles are eaten like spinach and used in soups, sautés, pestos, and other dishes. Never eat raw nettles.

Freeze-Dried Capsules

Often used for seasonal allergy support.

Safety and Contraindications

Nettles have an excellent safety profile.

• Safe for adults and children when cooked or dried
• Safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding
• High vitamin K content may affect warfarin therapy
• Use caution in severe kidney disease due to diuretic action

Always harvest from clean, unsprayed locations.

Wild Clover Farm Notes

At Wild Clover Farm, nettles are grown as both food and medicine. Spring harvests provide the first greens of the season, while dried leaf supports year-round nourishment and allergy relief.

Nettles are embraced as a teaching plant — a reminder that some of the most powerful medicines are abundant, resilient, and misunderstood.

Oklahoma/Zone 7 Growing Notes

• Not native to Oklahoma but grows well with consistent moisture
• Needs more water than most herbs; Oklahoma heat can stress it without irrigation
• Dies back completely in winter; returns vigorously in spring
• Harvest spring through early summer before it gets tough in heat
• Plant nettles in low-lying areas or near downspouts where they'll get natural moisture - they'll thrive in spots too wet for other herbs

Foraging:

• Found in rich, moist soils near streams, forest edges, and old homesteads
• Harvest young tops in early spring before flowering
• Wear gloves to avoid stings
• Drying or cooking neutralizes stinging hairs
• Avoid roadside or contaminated areas

Common Questions

Does drying remove the sting?
Yes. Drying, cooking, or tincturing neutralizes the stinging hairs.

Can nettles be used long term?
Yes. Nettles are well suited for long-term nutritive use.

References and Further Reading

• Wood, Matthew. The Earthwise Herbal
• Hoffmann, David. Medical Herbalism
• Gladstar, Rosemary. Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health

Disclaimer

This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Always consult a qualified health care provider before using herbal products.