Slender Stinging Nettle
Urtica gracilis
Also known as Slender Nettle, American Stinging Nettle
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A native North American perennial with slender, erect stems covered in fine stinging hairs and small opposite leaves. It produces inconspicuous greenish flowers in late summer and spreads via rhizomes to form colonies.
Why grow it
Slender stinging nettle differs from common stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) by its more delicate appearance and less aggressive spread, making it suitable for permaculture systems where a native nitrogen-accumulating plant is desired without heavy management. Like other nettles, it improves soil fertility, hosts beneficial insects, and produces edible young shoots and nutritious leaf material for compost or tea. It establishes readily in moist disturbed sites and tolerates partial shade, though it requires less frequent cutting back than its coarser relative.
Watch out for
Slender stinging nettle spreads vigorously through rhizomes, so contain it in dedicated beds or managed areas if you want to prevent unwanted expansion into neighboring plants. Harvest or cut back regularly to manage stand density and encourage tender new growth for culinary or medicinal use. The fine hairs lose their sting when dried or cooked, making processing straightforward with basic precautions like gloves during fresh handling.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Urticaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
North America (western and central regions)
Native to: Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A native North American perennial with slender, erect stems covered in fine stinging hairs and small opposite leaves. It produces inconspicuous greenish flowers in late summer and spreads via rhizomes to form colonies.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Slender Stinging Nettle grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Slender stinging nettle differs from common stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) by its more delicate appearance and less aggressive spread, making it suitable for permaculture systems where a native nitrogen-accumulating plant is desired without heavy management. Like other nettles, it improves soil fertility, hosts beneficial insects, and produces edible young shoots and nutritious leaf material for compost or tea. It establishes readily in moist disturbed sites and tolerates partial shade, though it requires less frequent cutting back than its coarser relative.
Watch out for
Slender stinging nettle spreads vigorously through rhizomes, so contain it in dedicated beds or managed areas if you want to prevent unwanted expansion into neighboring plants. Harvest or cut back regularly to manage stand density and encourage tender new growth for culinary or medicinal use. The fine hairs lose their sting when dried or cooked, making processing straightforward with basic precautions like gloves during fresh handling.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Urticaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
North America (western and central regions)
Native to: Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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