URTICA DIOICA: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, CARE, PROPERTIES - BIOLOGY - 2025

Urtica dioica is a species belonging to the Urticaceae family. It is a perennial herb characterized by the presence of stinging hairs; stems and leaves are covered with trichomes with terminal glands that contain organic acids that cause strong burning when in contact with the skin.

The nettle is also called the greater nettle or green nettle and in some regions to the north of Colombia and Venezuela it is known as pringamosa. In fact, in many areas it is considered an invasive plant or weed, however, its healing properties provide it with high commercial value.

Nettle (Urtica dioica). Source: pixabay.com

The stem has a square shape, the oval leaves have serrated edges, the flowers are small, unisexual and inconspicuous, being arranged in glomeruli. Their ideal habitat is intervened land, near homes, gardens, fences, embankments or vacant lots with a high content of organic waste.

Its main uses include its use as an antiallergic. It also relieves disorders of the nervous system, acts as an anti-inflammatory and has a high nutritional value as it is rich in vitamins A, B, C and E, as well as mineral elements and secondary metabolites.

General characteristics

Morphology

The nettle is a perennial shrub with a rustic appearance that reaches 1.5 m in height. It has the peculiarity of presenting stinging hairs along its surface, which at the slightest contact with the skin cause persistent burning and itching.

These hairs or trichomes are hard in consistency with a very fragile tip, and they also have tiny blisters that contain irritating fluids. These substances include formic acid, histamines, resins and proteins that cause hives with high levels of itching and stinging.

The straight stem is distinguished by its particular quadrangular shape, hollowed out, highly branched, yellowish-red in color and covered with stinging hairs. The large leaves are oval in shape, pointed, with serrated edges and a dark green color that are also covered with abundant stinging hairs.

The unisexual yellowish-green flowers are grouped axillary or terminal, in hanging panicles or racemes 10-12 cm long. The female ones are arranged in long hanging catkins and the male ones in smaller inflorescences. The fruits are capsules or dried achenes.

Active principles

Acetic, caffeic, chlorogenic, formic and gallic organic acids are common in leaves, stems and young branches, as well as chlorophyll A and B. They also contain acetylcholine, β-carotene, scopoletoside, flavonoids, mucilage, mineral salts, sitosterol and provitamin A. In trichomes you can find histamine and serotonin.

The roots contain agglutinin, ceramides, scopoletoside, phenylpropanes, phytosterols, lignans, monoterpendiols, polyphenols, polysaccharides and tannins. In the seeds, linoleic acid, mucilage, proteins and tocopherols are obtained.

Detail of the urticating hairs. Source: Frank Vincentz

Taxonomy

- Kingdom: Plantae.

- Division: Magnoliophyta.

- Class: Magnoliopsida.

- Order: Rosales.

- Family: Urticaceae.

- Genus: Urtica.

- Species: Urtica dioica L.

Habitat and distribution

Nettle is a cosmopolitan habitat species, found wild in America, Europe, Africa, and even Asia. In fact, it is very abundant throughout the Iberian Peninsula, especially in the Cantabrian Mountains.

It is a plant that easily colonizes any damaged or damaged environment. It grows on humid soils with a high content of organic matter, in orchards or corrals, on stone walls, paths or stream edges.

Care

Nettle is a perennial herbaceous plant that has the ability to grow wild in soils with a high content of organic matter. In fact, it is common at the edge of forests and farmland, as well as in stables where animal waste accumulates.

It is currently cultivated commercially due to its numerous phytochemicals used in pharmacology. Being sown on a large scale in European countries such as England, Finland, Austria and Germany, as well as some nations in Asia or America.

Environmental conditions

Nettle is a plant that adapts to different terrain and climatic conditions. However, aspects related to temperature and solar radiation are essential for its effective development.

The ideal temperature ranges between 15-28 ºC. At temperatures above 34 ºC, they can cause burning of the foliar area and subsequent death. In addition, it is a crop that optimizes its development in semi-shady conditions, since it does not tolerate full sun exposure.

On the other hand, it requires continuous humidity, since it is not adapted to hot and dry climates. In fact, despite growing in fertile soils, low humidity conditions can cause their destruction.

Soils and fertilization

The physical and nutritional conditions of the soil are essential for the effective development of nettle. It requires loose and porous soils, of the clay-loam type with good aeration and moisture retention after irrigation.

In turn, it requires good nutritional conditions that can be supplied by organic fertilizers and chemical fertilizers with a high content of nitrogen and phosphates. It is recommended the direct application of organic fertilizers, compost or worm humus every four months in order to level poor soils.

Nettle inflorescences. Source: pixabay.com

Sowing

Nettle is a short cycle plant that takes only six weeks under the right conditions to fully develop. A suitable environment is constituted by a fertile soil with a high content of organic matter or well fertilized, with good drainage and a semi-shaded environment.

The seeds are obtained directly from the plant from dried flowers under natural conditions. Sowing can be done in growth trays, pots or directly on the ground, trying to maintain conditions of humidity and shade.

Nettle seeds have a low germination percentage, so you should try to have several seeds per sowing point. Sowing is done superficially, trying to cover with a thin layer of soil. Under these conditions the seedlings emerge after 8-10 days.

When the shoots are 5-8 cm high, they proceed to transplant into larger pots or directly into the ground. Direct sowing in the field requires a separation between seedlings and between rows of 30 cm.

In commercial crops, the recommended method is in pots in order to control their growth. Nettles planted in open ground spread quickly because it is a highly invasive species.

Driving

Handling during transplantation and agronomic management should be done with projector gloves, due to the stinging characteristics of its leaves. In case of coming into contact with the trichomes of the plant, its effect can be neutralized with a bicarbonate solution.

Nettle leaves. Source: Júlio Reis

Irrigation

After transplanting, the application of constant irrigation contributes to the adaptation of the plant to the new environmental conditions. Once installed, maintenance irrigation is necessary to accelerate the growth and development of the crop.

Pruning

Nettle is a very invasive plant, which tends to colonize the ground in open environments. Maintenance and sanitation pruning are essential to favor its development and enhance its phytochemical quality.

Plagues and diseases

Urtica dioica is a rustic species very resistant to attack by pests and diseases due to the presence of various active principles. In fact, nettle is used as an organic repellent for the natural control of various pests and the incidence of phytopathogenic fungi.

Harvest

The best time to harvest nettle is at the end of flowering or from early spring to early fall. In these times the active principles of the plant are available in greater concentration.

The harvest consists of collecting the tender leaves that are located at the end of the plant. The leaves are used fresh or stored in a cool, dry place for industrial processing.

Properties

Nettle is a very common plant in wild environments, considered a weed in cultivated environments but widely used for its multiple properties. This species is used in gastronomy for its high nutritional content and in pharmacology for its active principles.

Wild nettle plants. Source: Frank Vincentz

Medicinal properties

The active elements present in nettle provide it with various medicinal properties that act as an astringent, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic and antihistamine. It also acts as an antirheumatic, antianemic, cholagogue, diuretic, depurative, hypoglycemic, hemostatic and uricosuric.

Thus, it is used to improve rheumatism, relieve hemorrhoids, fight fatigue, cleanse the blood and heal inflammations. In addition, it calms expectoration problems, regulates blood glucose levels, acts as an antihistamine, strengthens hair and nails and reduces hangovers.

Gastronomic use

The leaves are used as an ingredient in a typical dish from the Liguria region (Italy) known as "preboggion". Similarly, scalded leaves are used in some regions of Spain to make traditional Spanish tortillas.

References

1. Bisht, S., Bhandari, S., & Bisht, NS (2012). Urtica dioica (L): an undervalued, economically important plant. Agric Sci Res J, 2 (5), 250-252.
2. Nettle, its care and important data (2019) Medicinal Plants. Recovered in: como-plantar.com
3. Pomboza-Tamaquiza, P., Quisintuña, L., Dávila-Ponce, M., Llopis, C., & Vásquez, C. (2016). Habitats and traditional uses of Urtica species l. in the upper basin of the Rio Ambato, Tungurahua-Ecuador. Journal of the Selva Andina Biosphere, 4 (2), 48-58.
4. Porcuna, JL (2010). The Nettle: Urtica urens and Urtica dioica. Rev. Ae, 2. Plant Health Service. Valencia.
5. Urtica dioica. (2019). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Recovered at: es.wikipedia.org
6. Urtica dioica: Nettle (2009) The Encyclopedia of Plants by A.Vogel. Recovered in: avogel.es
7. Vibrans, Heike (2009) Weeds of Mexico. Urtica dioica L. var. angustifolia Schltdl. Recovered at: conabio.gob.mx