Botanical profile

Nettle

Latin name
Urtica dioica
Common name
Nettle
Type
Medicinal perennial
Family
Urticaceae

Nettle is a perennial medicinal and edible plant known for its serrated green foliage, rich in character and very useful in herb, medicinal, and naturalized gardens. Often associated with wild gardens, it has great ecological value, as it supports several beneficial insects and contributes to biodiversity. Its young leaves can be carefully harvested and used cooked in soup, herbal tea, pesto, omelets, or homemade preparations, once their stinging effect is neutralized by cooking or drying.

Easy to cultivate, nettle prefers a location in full sun or partial shade, in rich, fresh, fertile, and well-drained soil. It thrives in soils with plenty of organic matter and can become vigorous once established, so it is best to plant it in a controlled space, a naturalized corner, or a large container. As its leaves and stems are stinging to the touch, it is recommended to wear gloves when handling, maintaining, or harvesting it.

Highly valued in ecological gardening, nettle can also be used to prepare plant extracts, nettle fertilizer, or green matter to enrich compost. Both robust, nutritious, and full of botanical interest, it is ideal for gardeners looking for a useful, sustainable, and biodiversity-friendly plant. It is an excellent plant for enriching a medicinal garden, a natural vegetable patch, or a space dedicated to edible and traditional plants.

Care guide

Care level
Moderate

Choosing this plant

Main benefit
Foliage rich in minerals, useful in cooking and in the garden
Plant fertilizer, natural garden, biodiversity, companion plant, culinary harvest after cooking
Container growing
Container-growing is possible in a large pot to control its spread.
Seasonal care
Prune before it goes to seed to control its spread; wear gloves when harvesting; cut back in spring
Growing conditions

Light, soil, water and hardiness

Hardiness zone
3 to 9
Exposure
Sun to partial shade
Watering
Regular; keep the soil moist without waterlogging
Humidity
Medium to high humidity; prefers cool, rich soil
Fertilization
Compost in spring; likes nitrogen-rich soils
Soil type
Fertile soil, rich in organic matter, cool to moist
Soil pH
Slightly acidic to neutral
Minimum temperature
-30°C
Propagation method
Sowing or division of rhizomes
Plant appearance

Blooming, foliage and shape

Blooming period
Summer
Flower color
Pale green
Fruiting
Seeds at the end of the season
Foliage color
Green
Foliage type
Obsolete
Shape
Rhizomatous clump-forming habit
Garden structure

Size and growth

Height
90 to 150 cm (36 to 60 inches)
Width
60 to 90 cm (24 to 36 inches)
Growth rate
Rapid growth
Vegetable garden and yield

Companion planting, spacing and harvest

Companion plants
Comfrey, mint, bee balm, fruit trees
Plants to avoid
Avoid near small fragile plants as it can invade
Spacing
45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 inches)
Harvest period
Young shoots in spring; leaves before flowering
Not recommended for pets
Not recommended for pets

Pets

Butterflies
Plants that attract butterflies

Butterflies

Deer
Less attractive or generally tolerated by deer

Deer

The availability of our plants varies depending on arrivals, seasons, nursery production and supplier availability. Some varieties may be offered for a limited time only, depending on their natural cycle or current stock. These plant profiles are designed to guide and inspire you when choosing plants for the garden, landscaping projects, containers or long-lasting outdoor arrangements.