European Stinging Nettle is an introduced plant that is uncommon in North Carolina, where it is most often found over basic bedrock. The name dioica indicates that the plant is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants. European Stinging Nettle is more common than the rare American Stinging Nettle (Urtica gracilis), which lacks stinging hairs on the stems and is monoecious (male and female flowers on the same plant, though in separate inflorescences) and occurs in bottomlands over limestone.

Madison Co., NC 7/29/2012.

Both European and American Stinging Nettle are much less common than the native Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis), which also has stinging hairs and is often abundant in wet bottomlands.

Madison Co., NC 7/29/2012.