Urtica sp.
Stinging nettle, Stinging Nettle
Family: Urticaceae · Type: Perennial · Variable; species dependent
Urtica sp. (Stinging nettle) is a non-native California perennial in the Urticaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Hesperocnide: Urtica has 4 separate unequal sepals; Hesperocnide has 2-4 fused equal sepals.; vs Scrophularia: Urtica has stinging hairs; Scrophularia is safe to touch.; vs Stachys: Urtica stings and has tiny nettle flowers; Stachys is safe with tubular mint flowers.; vs Phacelia: Urtica has opposite leaves and stings; Phacelia has coiled flower clusters and doesn't sting.; vs Rubus: Urtica has stinging hairs on herbaceous stems; Rubus has thorns on woody canes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Urtica sp. native to California?
No. Urtica sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Urtica sp. belong to?
Urtica sp. is in the Urticaceae family, genus Urtica.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.