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Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis (California nettle)
Weyand, Phyllis

Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis (Ait.) Seland.

California nettle, Stinging nettle

Urticaceae (Nettle Family)

USDA Symbol: URDIG

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Highly irritating to the skin, this Nettle should not be handled. However, the very young shoots and top leaves may be cooked and served as greens or used in soups and stews. The family and genus names come from the Latin uro (I burn).

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Flower:
Fruit:

Distribution

USA: AK , AL , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: NB , NS , PE
USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK(N), CAN(N), SPM(N)
* Available Online from Wildflower Center Store

Bibliography

* The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-12-09
Research By: TWC Staff

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