Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: In deep, rich soil or near moisture, sagebrush deserts, shady lowlands and mountain slopes, sea level to subalpine.
Flowers: May-September
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Wind
Rhizomatous perennials 1-3 meters tall.
Simple, opposite, petiolate with stipules at base; margins serrate to dentate; stinging and nonstinging hairs present on both surfaces, or stinging hairs on lower surface only.
Plants monoecious or dioecious. Sepals 4, petals absent, stamens 4 and opposite the sepals, ovary superior.
Achene enclosed within the dry sepals.
Publication: Hort. Kew. 3: 341. 1789.
Urtica dioica L. ssp. gracilis (Aiton) Selander
Urtica dioica L. var. angustifolia Schltdl.
Urtica dioica L. var. californica (Greene) C.L. Hitchc.
Urtica dioica L. var. gracilis (Aiton) R.L. Taylor & MacBryde
Urtica dioica L. var. lyallii (S. Watson) C.L. Hitchc.
Urtica dioica L. var. procera (Muhl. ex Willd.) Wedd.
- ssp. gracilis – stinging nettle Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.
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ssp. holosericea – stinging nettle
Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Urtica gracilis in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.
WA Flora Checklist: Urtica gracilis checklist entry.
OregonFlora: Urtica gracilis information.
E-Flora BC: Urtica gracilis atlas page.
CalPhotos: Urtica gracilis photos.
USDA Plants: Urtica gracilis information.
