Stinging Nettle Seeds - Urtica Dioica Herb Seed

Stinging Nettle Seeds

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Herb Specifications

Season: Perennial

USDA Zones: 3 - 10

Height: 24 - 36 inches

Bloom Season: Late spring to late summer

Bloom Color: Green

Environment: Full sun to partial shade

Soil Type: Nitrogen-rich, moist soils that drain well

Deer Resistant: Yes

Latin Name: Urtica Dioica

Planting Directions

Temperature: 65F

Average Germ Time: 10 - 14 days

Light Required: Yes

Depth: Surface sow seed and do not bury

Sowing Rate: 7 - 10 seeds per plant

Moisture: Keep seeds moist until germination

Plant Spacing: 15 - 18 inches

Stinging Nettle (Urtica Dioica) - Stinging Nettle is found growing all across North America and especially in moist, forested soil. If you have experienced the pain of a Stinging Nettle plant, wisdom would tell you to avoid it. But, this perennial, often grown from herb seeds, is used as a medicinal herb, and it is used in the kitchen as well where cooking will remove the stinging effect of the leaves.

Culinary benefits

Stinging Nettle is considered to be more nutritious in iron than spinach. For the best flavor and nutrition, harvest only the top 4 - 5 inches of the Stinging Nettle plant. Harvest before the plant flowers.

herb seed nettle

Herb seed | stinging nettle

How to grow

How To Grow Stinging Nettle From Seed: Stinging Nettle seeds are small, and they are easier to work with if they are mixed with some garden sand. Some gardeners recommend that the herb seeds have a cold treatment before germinating. If starting the seeds indoors, freeze the herb seeds for several weeks before sowing the Stinging Nettle seeds. Cover the starter trays or pots with a plastic dome or plastic wrap to help keep the moisture high.

Once the seedlings are 3 - 4 inches in height, transplant them to the herb garden. Or directly sow the Stinging Nettle seeds outdoors in the late fall so that the herb seeds can freeze through the winter. The plants can be invasive, so it is best to contain it to an area and not let it go to seed. Always wear gloves when working with the plant.

  • Sowing Rate: 7 - 10 seeds per plant
  • Average Germ Time: 10 - 14 days
  • Keep moist until germination
  • Attracts bumblebees
  • Depth: Surface sow, do not bury
stinging nettle plant

Plant History

Stinging Nettle herb plants have a long history as a medicinal herb. During medieval times it was used as a diuretic, to treat joint pain, and muscle pain. Today, Stinging Nettle root is used by some to treat urinary problems related to an enlarged prostate, and some use it for the relief of arthritis pain.

  • Height: 24 - 36 inches
  • USDA Zones: 3 - 10
  • Season: Perennial
  • Deer Resistant: Yes