Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Urticaceae ⟩ Urtica dioica / common nettle

Urtica dioica L.

common nettle (Urticaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadNegligible tendencyNW
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Stinging nettles are covered in hairs that can produce a painful sting.

Long Hanborough (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2009-05-30

 common nettle / Urtica dioica: Stinging nettles are covered in hairs that can produce a painful sting.

Urtica dioica is dioecious, with separate male and female plants.

Vienna, Austria; 2005-06-20

 common nettle / Urtica dioica: _Urtica dioica_ is dioecious, with separate male and female plants.

The male (staminate) flowers are borne in long, pendulous panicles.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2009-08-13

 common nettle / Urtica dioica: The male (staminate) flowers are borne in long, pendulous panicles.

The female (pistillate) flowers are shorter and less pendulous, with a woolly or frosty appearance.

Browndown (VC11: South Hampshire); 2017-05-09

 common nettle / Urtica dioica: The female (pistillate) flowers are shorter and less pendulous, with a woolly or frosty appearance.

Urtica dioica subsp. galeopsifolia is an under-recorded diploid subspecies of damp habitats; it has narrower leaves, with hardly any stinging hairs.

Lower Quinton (VC33: East Gloucestershire); 2018-06-02

 common nettle / Urtica dioica: _Urtica dioica_ subsp. _galeopsifolia_ is an under-recorded diploid subspecies of damp habitats; it has narrower leaves, with hardly any stinging hairs.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne