Heart-leaf Stinging Nettle is an edible annual with very many stinging trichomes or "hairs" along its leaves and stems that can lead to contact dermatitis and sting for 2 days. It is native to SE USA and into Mexico and found in rich woods, flood plains and disturbed areas. This plant is an important food source for the larvae of several different butterflies including Red Admiral ( Vanessa atalanta) , Painted lady ( Vanessa cardui) , Eastern comma ( Polygonia comma ) , Mouring Cloak ( Nymphalis antiopa ) , and Question mark ( Polygonia interrogationis ) .
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.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Prostrate
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenate; Serrate
Leaf feel
Prickly
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Heart-shaped opposite leaves with toothed margins resemble mint and having many stinging hairs. Leaf base cordate to rounded. 1-2.5 inches long and up to 1 nch wide.
Flower color
Green; White
Flower form
Cyme; Insignificant
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Insignificant greenish to whitish flowers are either male or female occurring in leaf axils on the same plant in spherical clusters. The male flowers have five stamens with explosive anthers and female flowers have one ovary subtended by four to five sepals. Blooms March to Nov. Flowers are wind-pollinated.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Flattened egg-shaped brown achenes enclosed by bract-like structures
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Weak green to red branched stems with many stinging hairs
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Central and Southeastern U.S.A. to Guatemala
Distribution
AL , AR , FL , GA , IL , KS , KY , LA , MA , MO , MS , NC , NY , OH , OK , SC , TN , TX , WV
Wildlife value
This plant supports the following larvae: Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma), Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), Question Mark Butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis). Questionmark butterflies have an interesting life cycles: overwintered adult Question Mark butterflies lay eggs from spring until the end of May. These will appear as summer adults from May-September, laying eggs that then develop into the winter adult form. The winter adults appear in late August and shelter for the winter starting the cycle all over again. Adult Question Mark butterflies feed on rotting fruit, tree sap, dung, and carrion only visiting flowers for feeding when absolutely necessary. Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) rarely use this host plant in North Carolina.
Attracts
Butterflies
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves; Flowers; Stems
Fruit type
Achene
Edibility
Leaves and stems are edible once cooked, dried, wilted, or refrigerated as that seems to take out the "sting" from the prolific hairs. It tastes similar to spinach, is high in many vitamins and minerals and can be used in the same ways. Do not eat the plant after flowering.
Uses (ethnobotany)
The fiber from the stems has been used to make clothing. They have been used medicinally to treat allergies, and respiratory issues.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Naturalized Area
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Edible Garden; Native Garden
Garden tags
#problem for children #eastern comma butterfly #red admiral butterfly #question mark butterfly #larval host plant #painted lady butterfly #butterfly friendly #stinging hairs #contact dermatitis #pollinator plant #annual #wildlife friendly #NC native #butterfly caterpillar host