Spurge nettle is a flowering, herbacous perennial, native plant in the Euphorbiaceae (spurge) family. Spurge nettle produces white, trumpet-shaped flowers in terminal clusters. However, you need to take note of the other common names for this plant and approach it cautiously as it is covered with stinging hairs. Spurge nettle is commonly found in forested or natural areas in sandy woods, along roadsides, and old fields. It can be weedy in disturbed areas. The species name stimulosus comes from the Latin, stimulus , meaning "goad" or "prod". Spurge nettle does best in light shade (2 to 6 hours of daily sun) and well-drained, sandy soil. Spurge nettle is weedy with a stout tap root and not recommended for the home landscape. Spurge nettle is closely related to C. urens, but differs enough in habit, leaf pubescence, and seed shape, that the two are treated as distinct species. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests. The hairs on this plant contain a caustic irritant that inflicts a painful sting to bare skin causing a painful, irritating rash.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-stemmed
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Orbicular; Ovate
Leaf margin
Lobed; Serrate
Leaf feel
Prickly
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The 3 to 6 inch ovate to round leaves are alternate, simple, palmately 3-5 lobed with toothed margins and covered with stinging hairs.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Long Bloom Season
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
White, tubular, 5-parted flowers in a terminal cyme. It consists of pistillate flowers in the center with staminate flowers ouside. Blossoms from early spring into early fall.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The 1/2 inch fruit is a 3-sided capsule with a single seed in each section. It is green and covered in stinging hairs.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Branched green stems with stinging hairs and white latex sap. Stems are 1 to 2 feet in height.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Virginia, south to Florida, west to Texas.
Distribution
Introduced to Kentucky.
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Roots; Tubers
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
The tap root is used as a potato substitute, tasting like pasta. Gather tubers by digging from the side and without touching the tops.
Severe stinging of the skin lasting no longer than one hour. Can cause more serious reactions in some people. Leaves should not be consumed in quantity.