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Reference · Crops

Urticaceae

Stinging nettle (Latin: Urtica dioica) is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Urticaceae family. Traditionally viewed as a weed, it is currently gaining traction as a valuable commercial crop for the textile, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries.

Main sections

Pilea17 Ramie17 Laportea13 Cecropia12 Pellitory11 Pouzolzia6 Obetia4 Poikilospermum4 Australina3 Girardinia3 Gonostegia3 Oreocnide3 Pellionia3 Musanga2 Pilea2 Procris2 Stinging Nettle2 Achudemia1 Boehmeria1 Coussapoa1
69 sections

What the section contains

Achudemia Achudemia 1 item Annual nettle Urtica membranacea Australina Australina 3 items Baby tears Soleirolia soleirolii Boehmeria Boehmeria Jacq. 1 item Cecropia Cecropia 12 items Coussapoa Coussapoa 1 item Dark nettle Urtica atrovirens Debregeasia Debregeasia 1 item Debregeasia longifolia Debregeasia longifolia Debregeasia saeneb Debregeasia saeneb Dendrocnide Dendrocnide 1 item Elatostema Elatostema 1 item Elatostema cuneatum Elatostema cuneatum Elatostema edule Elatostema edule Elatostema laetevirens Elatostema laetevirens Elatostema latifolium Elatostema latifolium Elatostema nasutum Elatostema nasutum Elatostema umbellatum Elatostema umbellatum Elatostematoides Elatostematoides 1 item Fen nettle Urtica galeopsifolia Forsskaolea Forsskaolea 1 item Girardinia Girardinia 3 items Gonostegia Gonostegia 3 items Gyrotaenia Gyrotaenia 1 item Hemp-leaved nettle Urtica cannabina Hesperocnide Hesperocnide Hula nettle Urtica hulensis Kiev nettle Urtica kioviensis Laportea Laportea 13 items Lecanthus Lecanthus 1 item Leucosyke Leucosyke 1 item Maoutia Maoutia 1 item Masai nettle Urtica massaica Mulberry-leaved nettle Urtica morifolia Musanga Musanga 2 items Myrianthus Myrianthus 1 item Myriocarpa Myriocarpa 1 item Nanocnide Nanocnide 1 item Narrow-leaf nettle Urtica angustifolia New Zealand creeping shield plant Elatostema rugosum Obetia Obetia 4 items Oreocnide Oreocnide 3 items Pellionia Pellionia Gaudich. 1 item Pellionia Pellionia 3 items Pellitory Parietaria 11 items Phenax Phenax 1 item Pilea Pilea Lindl. 2 items Pilea Pilea 17 items Pipturus Pipturus 1 item Poikilospermum Poikilospermum 4 items Portosanto nettle Urtica portosantana Pouzolzia Pouzolzia 6 items Procris Procris 2 items Ramie Boehmeria 17 items Roman nettle Urtica pilulifera Round nettle Urtica circularis Rousselia Rousselia 1 item Soleirolia Soleirolia Stinging Nettle Urtica 2 items

Urticaceae

Originating from temperate regions of Eurasia and North America, the plant is now globally distributed. Its resilience allows it to thrive in diverse climatic conditions, provided that the soil is sufficiently moist and rich in nutrients, particularly nitrogen.

Botanically, the plant is characterized by its rhizomatous root system and stems covered in stinging trichomes, which contain irritants like formic acid. It is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. The plant exhibits rapid vegetative growth throughout the spring and summer seasons.

Cultivation requires careful site selection, as the plant can become invasive if not properly managed. Optimal growth is achieved in deep, fertile soils with a neutral pH. The main agrotechnical tasks involve mechanical harvesting of the biomass before the flowering stage to ensure the highest quality of fiber or foliage.

The economic utility of nettle is vast: it is used for high-quality bast fiber production, as a protein-rich additive in animal feed, and as a potent ingredient in herbal medicine. Furthermore, it serves as a sustainable source for organic fertilizers and natural pest control solutions in ecological farming.

  • Powdery mildew
  • Nettle rust
  • Aphids
  • Small tortoiseshell butterfly larvae
  • Stem weevils