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Nettle patch
Habitat
The stinging nettle is one of the UK’s most important native plants for wildlife. It supports more than 40 species of insect including some of our most colourful butterflies. It is a perennial with a square stem and pointed, toothed leaves covered in stinging hairs.
The long, whitish catkins of male and female flowers are born on separate plants from June until September. It can grow up to two metres high and flourishes on most soils, although it does particularly well on rich soil. Nettles spread rapidly via seeds or creeping underground roots.
A nettle patch harbours plenty of insects and invertebrates and is a magnet for birds and other insect-eaters. In late summer the huge quantity of seeds produced are food for many seed-eating birds.
Make the most of your garden
- Cultivate a nettle patch.
- Don't relegate it to a distant, shady corner. Ensure some nettles grow in full sun to attract the most insects.
- Cut some nettles in the summer to encourage a late flush of leaves.
If you are stung, a natural remedy is normally close by. Dock leaves contain chemicals that neutralise the sting and cool the skin.