Urtica dioica - This fast growing herbaceous perennial is one of our favorites! Stinging Nettles often get a bad rep because of how quickly it likes to grow and the fine stinging hairs the stems are covered in. However, it serves as food for the larvae of several butterflies and the leaves contain vitamin C, A, and other nutrients. 

Plant 12 inches apart.

Tip:  You can cut the leaves off the stems to cook them down like spinach or hang the stems upside down to dry and harvest the dried leaves. When cooked or used in teas, the heat melts the fine stinging hairs off. Because of the high vitamin and mineral content, we like to use nettle leaves in teas for added nutrition.