Wild ForageCaution

Stinging nettle

Urtica dioica

Also called: nettle

Opposite, toothed leaves with stinging hairs. Excellent cooked green when harvested young.

Stinging nettle: Whole plant — Whole plantPhoto: Dr. Ben R. Goldstein · CC0 · source

Stinging nettle: Leaf — LeafPhoto: Prosthetic Head · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Confirm EVERY point before you eat it

Leaves and stem arranged in opposite pairs
Sharply toothed leaves with fine stinging hairs on stem and underside
Squarish stem
Later: tiny green flower strings hanging from the leaf joints

0 of 4 confirmed. If any point does not match, it is not this plant.

Look-alikes to rule out

Wood nettleHarmless
Leaves alternate rather than opposite; also stings; also edible cooked.
False nettleHarmless
Opposite leaves but no sting. Edible.
Dead nettleHarmless
Fuzzy scalloped leaves, purple-pink flowers, no sting. Edible.

Warnings

Wear gloves. Cook or dry before eating to remove the sting; never eat raw.
After flowering, older leaves carry gritty crystals that can irritate the urinary tract. Use young tips only.

In season

Harvest tips before flowering.

Habitat

Rich moist soil, creek banks, woodland edges, old barnyards.

Parts used

young leaf tips

Preparation and use

Blanch 1-2 minutes, then use like spinach, or dry for tea.

Harvest note

Do not harvest from polluted or sprayed sites; nettle takes up nitrates.

Backpack Guide: Stinging Nettle — Positive ID →

Educational reference only. Never eat a wild plant or mushroom based on a website or app. Confirm with an experienced forager, your local extension office, or a mycological club. Poison Control (US): 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 for severe symptoms.