A plant from the kitchen garden: Urtica dioica

It has many healing properties and is actually quite pretty if you look closely. It is also extremely versatile, so it will never become boring. What's more, it can certainly be described as generous.

So, who are we talking about here? The common stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), a favourite weed. It is considered the 'public enemy number one' in the beautifully manicured gardens of many amateur botanists and allotment holders. However, this is completely unjustified, as the natural living movement has demonstrated.

Perhaps people still resent the nettle for its effective defence mechanism, which stings walkers, gardeners, children and pets. This inconspicuous, beautiful plant can be found everywhere because it is not overly demanding. Apart from upsetting fans of manicured gardens, it is amazing what it can do. It is edible, a fact that people especially remember in times of need when other vegetables are unavailable or cannot be grown.

Nettle shoots are rich in magnesium, calcium, silicon and vitamins A and C. They also have a high iron and protein content, making them a valuable addition to a healthy diet. Their slightly sour taste is pleasant to most people, too. The plant is also popular in the form of tea, which can help with various ailments, including urinary tract disorders and gout. It can also have a positive effect on rheumatism and blood count. Nettle can influence high blood pressure and provide relief in cases of kidney or stomach weakness. Depending on how it is used, nettle can help treat diarrhoea and constipation and support diabetes therapy.

Chopped nettles are also added to animal feed, for example for chickens or pigs. This nutrient-rich plant is a concentrated source of nutrients and is especially important for rearing. However, this maligned wonder of nature has many more uses: fabrics can be made from nettles. Nettle fabric was produced when cotton or flax were scarce, for example for army uniforms during wartime.

In ancient times, nettle leaves were also used to keep food fresh: butter and other perishables were wrapped in them due to their antibacterial properties. Few people know that this plant can also be used for dyeing. Depending on how the dye is prepared, it can give fabrics a beautiful yellow or deep grey-green colour. Nettles were probably much more highly valued in earlier times, and they are slowly coming back into favour.

As well as benefiting humans, stinging nettles are indispensable for around fifty species of butterfly. The saying 'lazy gardeners have the most beautiful butterflies in their gardens' is no coincidence. Many gardeners have realised this and now leave a corner of their garden for the plant to serve as a feeding ground for butterflies. Nettles can also be used to brew a decoction that protects plants against pests – when applied, it strengthens the plants and increases their resistance. This does involve a little work, but it is free and harmless from a biological point of view.

From around 1960 onwards, chemicals were happily sprayed on every tulip patch, no matter how small, regardless of necessity. There is now a growing awareness that gardens are living things and do not need to be as tidy as operating theatres. Those who prefer a more manicured look may need to reconsider their relationship with nature. In any case, this generous plant will be very grateful if you give it a place to grow. After all, it has a lot to offer.

© 'A plant from the kitchen garden: Urtica dioica. The stinging nettle is the gardener's public enemy number one': An article by Pressenet (translated by Izabel Comati), 07/2025. The illustration shows the stinging nettle (from the book 'Flora von Deutschland' by Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé, 1885), CC0 (Public Domain Licence).