Stinging nettle grows from zones 4 to 10, reaching 3 to 9 feet tall along streambanks, in woodland clearings, and on the edges of disturbed ground wherever the soil is deep, rich, and reliably moist. Its green flowers arrive in spring and its rhizomatous root system spreads steadily, sometimes forming dense colonies covering an acre or more. Four of its five subspecies carry stinging hairs; the sting is real and not brief, so handling requires gloves and long sleeves.

For all its reputation as a nuisance, stinging nettle has an extraordinary track record as a useful plant. Young shoots harvested in early spring are nutritious cooked greens, the sting neutralized by heat. Butterfly larvae, including several species of fritillaries and anglewings, rely on it as a host plant. It does not perform well in drought, preferring the consistently moist conditions of its preferred streamside and meadow habitats. Where it naturalizes in suitable ground, it tends to stay, making placement a considered decision rather than a casual one.