As a permaculture enthusiast, I'm all about multitasking plants that stack functions in the garden and offer multiple uses. That’s where nettles are my favorite - they offer a host of boons for the homesteader, from a medicine chest's worth of healing properties to a buffet for butterflies and bugs.

But nettles' contributions aren't just restricted to the homesteader’s life. They've got a storied history with us humans, too.

I find it incredible that people throughout history have harnessed every part of the nettle. They turned its sting from a pain into an asset in ways that are as clever as they are surprising.

Let’s geek out about how nettles have entwined with our lives, shaped our gardens, and helped our environment.

Urtica dioica

Selected Subspecies:

• gracilis (United States/Canada)
• dioica (Europe, Eastern United States/Canada)
• holosericea (West Coast United States/Mexico)
• urens (lesser nettle/dwarf nettle, Europe and Eurasia)

Etymology:

• Genus: Latin urere, “to burn”
• Species: Greek dioica “two houses” - male and female plants in the dioica species
• Common Name: Nettles, akin to “needles”

Common names:

• stinging nettle
• hoary nettle
• hokey pokey

Habitat:

Forests, shady floodplains, shaded wetland edges and scrub

Lifespan:

Perennial

(Carey, USDA FS, ABC, NIH, CFAES)

→ Plant Nerd Moment: American-native stinging nettles are mostly monoecious - they have male and female parts on the same plant. On the other hand, the European dioica species is dioecious, meaning there are female-only and male-only plants within a stand (Carey, USDA FS).

Harvesting and Utilizing Nettles

Best practices for harvesting nettles include:

• Wear protective gloves (even nitrile gloves work well)
• Bring a container or basket to carry the harvested plant material in
• The tops of the plant are the most succulent for eating

(CEDF)

To dry nettles for tea:

• Place harvested material on a single layer on a fine mesh drying rack OR hang in bundles to dry in a well-ventilated area
• Once all moisture is out of the leaf material, it will be crunchy and crumble easily. At this point, there should be no “sting”
• If the weather is damp or humid, run a fan nearby to help prevent mold
• Store in a glass jar with a lid, out of direct sunlight

(CEDF)

According to expert forager and naturalist Rachel Lambert, don’t eat nettles when it is:

• In bloom or afterwards (high in oxalic acid)
• Found on polluted locations or conventional agriculture (could have absorbed contaminants)
• Purple in color (bitter taste)

Our relationship with nettles today

Let’s explore all the ways that humans with many interests - from herbalists to homesteaders - work with this amazing plant in modern times.

Why permaculturists love nettles

As a permie, I love that nettles can do double duty - not only do they improve soil health, but they also act as a natural pest deterrent in the garden.

Studies show that nettle extracts can increase microbial activity in the soil, strengthening its natural defences against pathogens. Nettles can also be used to make a nutrient-rich foliar spray or fertilizer to directly nourish plants.

Nettles as natural pest control

Permaculturists appreciate that nettles can help repel pests and reduce fungal issues in the garden.

An overview of the properties of nettles, published in NIH, shares that stinging nettle can help protect crops from cabbage butterflies, cutworms, and aphids. They also mention that it can prevent root rot, powdery mildew, blight, leaf spot, and grey mold.

Make a “Plant Health” Foliar Spray with Nettles

For a direct nutrient-boost and pest control, you can make a nettle tea spray to apply to the leaves of your plants. This is known as a foliar spray, and is an effective tool for organic and sustainable gardening.

What you’ll need:

1 cup dried nettles

Cooking pot

Fine mesh strainer

1 gallon container

Water

Spray Bottle

What to do:

• In a large pot, combine the nettles with 1 gallon of water.
• Place on the stovetop and bring to a boil.
• Cover and let come to room temperature (around 2-3 hours or overnight).
• Strain the plant material from the water. If using a sieve, you may need to run it through several times to remove everything.
• Alternatively, you can also run the mixture through a french press
• Take the debris-free liquid and place it in a spray bottle so the bottle is filled about 1/10th of the way
• Fill the rest of the bottle with water
• Spray on leaves of plants in the very early morning on a day that’s expected to be overcast and not too hot
• Observe your plants; slurry can be applied monthly
• The remaining plant material can be added to the compost or applied on the garden soil as a mulch

(DK Publishing)

Nettles to build soil health

When nettle extracts (like the nettle slurry recipe mentioned above) are applied to the soil, studies show that the soil microbial activity increases.

This means the soil has a more robust defence system which can stand up better against pathogens. In the end, this provides more support for your crops.

DIY Fertilizer with Nettles

To make your own nettle-based fertilizer, simply gather a bunch of nettles and place them in a 5-gallon bucket.

Cover the nettles with water and let the mixture sit until it starts to develop an unpleasant odor, stirring it occasionally. If you have a warm and sunny spot, this process will be accelerated. Usually the stink will come through around 2-3 weeks. That’s how you’ll know it’s ready!

Once the "nettle tea" is ready, dilute it with 10-20 parts of water before applying it to your garden as a soil drench (Moulton College).

Why herbalists love nettles

My first brush with nettles wasn’t stinging - it was surprisingly soothing.

Before I got up close and personal with nettles in their natural, prickly state, I knew them as a tea.

Nettles makes a warm, mineral-rich brew that has supported my sometimes-anemic body over the years. In their dried form, nettles are a stingless ally and companion.

Medicinal Properties

We’ve relied on nettles for medicinal purposes throughout the ages. And in today’s modern times, we have some scientific studies that back up what our ancestors have known for centuries:

• Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic (pain relief): Studies show that nettles can help decrease pain from arthritis (T+F, NIH).
• Anti-histamine: While nettles make a lot of pollen themselves, they can actually help allergy sufferers with symptoms like congestion and itching (NIH).
• Diuretic: Nettles can offer some relief from enlarged prostate (URMC Rochester)

Nettles also support your health through their robust nutritional profile. Let me break down all the vitamins, minerals, and other goodies packed into these plants. Nettles contain:

• proteins
• fiber
• vitamin A
• vitamin C
• vitamin D
• vitamin E
• vitamin K
• B-complex vitamins
• iron
• zinc
• selenium
• magnesium
• potassium
• Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids
• chlorophyll, especially when grown in shady areas

(NIH1,NIH2, Nature,Cornell)

Why environmentalists love nettles

Nettles are a total insect magnet - they attract all kinds of amazing critters like ladybugs, lacewings, and even rare butterfly species. It's like having your own little wildlife sanctuary in your backyard!

I’ve seen this in my own garden. In my kitchen garden, I have a patch of nettles that looks different from other areas where I grow it. It’s always nibbled, with not a single leaf left whole. I leave this patch for the insects, which support a more balanced ecosystem in my garden.

Butterflies and Moths:

Nettles are an important host plant for the larvae of a long list of butterfly and moth species, including:

• Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
• Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)
• Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
• Satyr Anglewing (Polygonia satyrus)
• Milbert's Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis milberti)
• Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma)
• California Coverworm Moth (Hypena californica)
• Peacock butterfly (Aglais io)
• Comma (Polygonia c-album)
• Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)

(Metro Field Guide, IWT)

Other Beneficial Insects:

There’s more to nettles than moths and butterflies. Here’s what else you can expect to see on nettles.

• Ladybugs (Coccinellidae)
• Hoverflies (Syrphidae)
• Lacewings (Chrysoperla carnea)
• Parasitic wasps(Braconidae, Ichneumonidae, Trichogrammatidae)
• Minute pirate bugs (Anthocoridae)

(Metro Field Guide, IWT)

Additional Ecological Benefits

Beyond their role as a habitat and food source for beneficial insects, nettles also offer other ecological benefits:

• Rehabilitation: Nettles can establish in metal-contaminated soils, such as the Rhive River estuary in the Netherlands, helping to remediate these areas (Carey, USDA FS).
• Soil Indicator: Nettles are often an indicator of high nutrient levels, particularly phosphorus, in the soil  (CFAES).
• Biodiversity Support: Nettles can benefit over-fertilized soils and support overall biodiversity in an ecosystem (NIH).

Stinging nettles are a valuable plant for environmentalists due to their ability to provide a diverse array of beneficial insects with essential habitat and food resources, as well as their potential for soil remediation and biodiversity support.

Why homesteaders love nettles

There are so many uses for this versatile plant! Here’s how homesteaders can make the most of this herb as a livestock supplement.

Want to supplement your chickens with some homegrown goodness? Incorporate nettles into their feed! According to Cornell, the nutritious nettle supplement can boost laying rates in your hens.

This was proven in a study published in Poultry Science Journal, which found that egg numbers and size increased. Additionally, the yolk color became a deeper shade of orange.

This is because of its high protein, vitamin, and mineral content (ienica).

For best results, dry the nettle in order to remove the sting. Add crushed dried nettles into your hen’s dry feed or add to grain soaks and feed as normal (Cornell).

Nettles in Human History and Culture

The more I dig into the history of nettles, the more I’m blown away by how humans have formed relationships with this plant throughout time.

Historical edible

Nettles are one of the first green plants to emerge in the spring, and so it was a welcome sight to see out in nature. Plus, since nettles is a good source of vitamins A and C, protein and iron, it is has been used as a wild-grown spinach alternative for millennia (CFAES).

During times of economic hardship, nettles are something that humans across cultures turn to as a valuable food source that is as healthy as it is free. However, during wars sometimes nettle was so over-harvested that they were difficult to find! (Brittanica)

As someone who makes cheese from my goat’s milk, I’m really curious about this fact: Nettle plant tops can be a replacement for animal rennet when making cheese (ABC)! They have the ability to coagulate the milk and can be a substitute for animal-based rennet (fermentaholics).

Nettles in ancient textiles and fabric production

Here's a fascinating video about how to turn nettles into string that you can use as cordage around the garden.

Beyond just a nutritious food source, nettles have been woven into textiles, ropes, and even paper since at least 1000 BC!

In North America, fishing lines were made that date to 1000 BCE at Lovelock Cave in Nevada (Whitford, Journal of the NYBG, from Doris Blau).

Native Americans transformed the plants into fiber for bow strings, cords, ropes, cloth, fishnet, and baskets (ABC). In fact, nettle is listed as a plant with the greatest number of fiber applications to Native Americans (Moerman, Native American Ethnobotany, from Doris Blau).

In Europe, creating fibers from nettle plants dates back to at least 2800 years ago during the Bronze Age in Denmark.

Surprisingly, this textile was made not from native nettles, but from an imported variety! This curious finding indicates that nettle was an important plant in ancient Europe (nature).

Overview of nettles in folklore and traditional medicine

In ancient Greece, Hippocrates himself was prescribing nettles to treat joint pain and respiratory issues. And in British herbal lore, nettles were celebrated as a spring tonic, full of vitamins and minerals to help people recover from the long winter (ABC) .

But my favorite nettle folklore has to be from the fairy tale world. In the classic Hans Christian Andersen story "The Wild Swans", the heroine has to endure the painful sting of nettles to knit coats that will break a curse on her brothers. It's such a powerful symbol of self-sacrifice and determination. I love how this unassuming plant has woven itself into the tapestry of human storytelling (Terri Windling).

The Science Behind the Sting

Walk near a wild rose or blackberry bramble, and its defense system - thorns - are pretty easy to spot. It’s a clear “do not disturb” sign.

Nettles are more subdued in their visual cues. Their hairs can be mistaken for soft downy fuzz that we see on a lot of other plants.

However, a brush against a nettle patch and you’ll soon learn that there’s something very powerful going on with those hairs!

Often likened to hypodermic needles, these hairs can break off from the plant and insert themselves into your skin. From there, they give you a cocktail of irritating and painful chemicals. Formic acid (similar to ant venom!), histamine, and even serotonin are in the mix (OSU).

This is where the burning and itching sensation come from.

But here’s where it gets interesting: historically, cultures across the globe have turned to the sting of nettles to support them on a therapeutic level.

Roman troops under Caesar are said to have rubbed themselves with nettles in order to stay awake. In some indigenous tribes, people may walk through a nettle patch in order to provoke vivid dreams (Oregon Wild).

Research even shows that the sting can relieve arthritis and rheumatism pain.

In one study, a single nettle leaf was applied to painful areas affected by arthritis. After w week of treatment, participants reported reduced pain in comparison with the control group (NIH).

This echoes what traditional medicine in the Americas, Eurasia, and Australia have recommended for centuries (Randall, Mt. Sinai).

The Future of Nettles: Sustainability and Innovation

As though nettles weren’t awesome enough for their historical uses, they also show promise as a valuable resource for anyone wanting to reduce their carbon footprint. In the world of sustainability, nettles offer a few eco-friendly solutions in our modern times.

Cotton Alternative

Nettles are an easy to grow plant that are kind to the soil and do not need much input in order to grow. This is the opposite of cotton, which can be harsh on the ecosystem and is usually grown with pesticides.

Nettle fibers are actually quite strong and durable (YAK). When processed correctly, they can be surprisingly soft - much like silk (textileworld).

Potential roles nettles may play in future agricultural and environmental efforts

As a potentially “invasive” plant, the problem many face with nettles is actually an asset, especially as the environment shifts. Their hardiness helps them to grow abundantly in a range of growing conditions.

The nutrient-rich quality of nettles makes them a natural resource that can be applied as a fertilizer or soil conditioner. A big pile of their leaves can serve as an activator for your compost pile. In turn, this compost reduces landfill waste and builds up your garden’s soil health.

A gift from nature: Nettles

From their medicinal properties to their ecological contributions and practical applications in organic gardening, nettles truly are the Swiss army knife of the plant world. Whether you're an herbalist, environmentalist, or permaculture enthusiast, this unassuming plant offers a treasure trove of uses and benefits that make it an invaluable ally in the garden and beyond.

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