Image of Urtica gracilis
Source: Kenraiz
image of Flowering plant
Urtica gracilis
Slender Stinging Nettle
Ortie élevée

Obsolete Names

slender nettle
No seeds available for this plant.
We currently accept seeds for this plant
Bloom colour: Green Bloom period: May - Jun
Max Height: 10.0 feet
Max Width: 3.0 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light condition:
Full sun More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Part shade More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Moisture medium Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan: Perennial plants that will that come back year after year Plant is dioecious Need a male and female plant to produce seeds
Gardener Experience:
plant germinate easy Easy to germinate
plant self seeding Self-seeding
Landscape uses:
wetland garden Suitable for wetland garden
Ecological Benefits:
Pollinator garden Supports pollinators
butterfly host Butterfly host
Tolerates:
limestone Tolerant Tolerates limestone conditions
transplantation Tolerant Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:
produces burs This plant produces burs
causes skin rashes This plant causes skin rashes

Plant Location

Native to Ottawa region: Yes

Distribution according to VASCAN

Distribution: Urtica gracilis
Ephemeral Native Introduced Excluded Extirpated Doubtful Absent
View taxonomy on Canadensys

View on iNaturalist

Thrives in Ecozones

  • Taiga Plains
  • Atlantic Maritime
  • Taiga Shield
  • Boreal Plains
  • Montane Cordillera
  • Prairies
  • Boreal Shield
  • Mixed Wood Plains

Ecological Benefits

Butterflies Supported by Urtica gracilis

  • Aglais milberti (Fire Rim Tortoiseshell)
  • Polygonia comma (Eastern Comma)
  • Polygonia interrogationis (Question Mark)
  • Xanthotype sospeta (False Crocus Geometer)
  • Xestia smithii (Smith's Dart)

Specialized Bees Supported by Urtica gracilis

No bee data available for this plant.

Plants that grow in similar conditions, that bloom at the same time.

Complementary Plants

  • No complementary plants found.

Substitute For Non-Native Plants

  • Urtica dioica (Stinging Nettle)

Sowing Information

Download Sowing Label (PDF)
  • Sowing depth: Surface sow
  • Sow anytime
  • Stratification duration: 0 days
  • Self-seeding

Harvesting and Seed Sharing

  • Harvest start month: September
  • Harvesting indicator: Seeds easily fall off when you gently pull them off
  • Harvesting mean: Use hand to detach from main stem
  • Seed viability test: No test needed before donating
  • Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/8 teaspoon
  • Seed storage: Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp, shaking seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
  • At least one cultivar: No, you can donate without knowing the source as there are only straight species
  • No harvesting video available at this time.

Toxicity Notes

Inadequate information on toxicity found.