Dwarf Nettle
Urtica urens
- Native to:
- Albania, Algeria, Austria, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is., China, Corse, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, East Aegean Is., Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Gulf States, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Kriti, Krym, Kuwait, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Madeira, Morocco, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Socotra, Somalia, Spain, Sudan-South Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Ukraine, Yemen
H. Zell
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Urticaceae
- Genus:
- Urtica
- Species:
- Urtica urens
- USDA Symbol:
- URUR
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- green
Wildlife Benefits
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Butterflies:Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- butterflies, birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage preferred
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- thrives in disturbed soils with high fertility
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 10–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily without pretreatment; light may improve germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI