- Common Nettle (Urtica dioica)

- The familiar stinging nettle. Oval leaves are toothed and pointed-tipped; borne in opposite pairs and covered with sharp hairs. Flowers appear June to October in pendulous catkins; male and female on separate plants. Favours disturbed soils. Height up to 1m

The nettle is a highly successful plant found all over the temperate areas of the world. It spreads by means of seeds and underground rhizomes that creep around just under the surface of the soil.

The jagged leaves held in pairs along the square stems are easily recognisable particularly after having experienced the sting. The plant itself is variable growing from 0.6 to 2 metres plus in height and can be found in a variety of habitats and soil types. It prefers rich soils and therefore does well around human settlements benefiting from the waste we produce - often indicating where old settlements have long since disappeared from the countryside.