A whole series of books could be written about the nettle. But that would probably be less attractive for you to find out more about this wild plant. All the important facts about the nettle are summarized here in a way that is easy to understand.

The nettle can grow up to three meters high

Important facts in the overview

  • Plant family: Nettle family
  • Distribution: native, almost worldwide
  • Occurrence: Paths, fences, meadows, forest edges, floodplains, riparian zones
  • Growth: 30 to 300 cm high
  • Leaves: juicy green, oblong-ovate, toothed, covered with stinging hairs
  • Flowering period: July to September
  • flowers: yellow-brownish
  • Seed maturity: September to October
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • Soil: rich in nutrients, humic, moist
  • Propagation: seeds, runners
  • Use: kitchen herb, medicinal herb, organic fertilizer/pesticide/herbicide

One plant, many names

While its scientific name is Urtica, it has many other popular names. These include, among others: hair nettle, hemp nettle, sow nettle, habernettle, thousand nettle and nettle. The term 'nettle', which appears in almost every name, refers to the nettle poison that sits in the fine hairs.

From the stem to the leaves to the flowers

This is a herbaceous medicinal plant. Depending on the species - the most well-known in this country are the large nettle and the small nettle - this plant can grow up to 3 m high. Their stems are erect and angular in cross-section.

The leaves and bristly stems are opposite. They are stalked and shaped into hearts at the base. Long stinging hairs appear mainly on their underside. These should protect the plant from predators. It contains the nettle poison, which is harmless to humans.

From the end of June/beginning of July the nettle blossoms appear. Its flowering period lasts until September. They are inconspicuous and stand together in panicles. In autumn, 1 mm long nut fruits develop from them, each with one seed.

Where does this weed like to grow?

The stinging nettle prefers to grow on nutrient-rich soil. It is an indicator plant for nitrogen-rich, but also for humus-rich and moist soil. It is most commonly found in sunny to partially shaded locations.

tips

The stinging nettle is rich in nutrients and healing substances. It can be consumed and has diuretic, blood purifying, digestive and anti-inflammatory effects, among other things.

Category:

Herbs