Leaves and stems are very hairy with both stinging and non-stinging hairs. The stinging hairs are made of silica, like glass, and break off in the skin when touched injecting a variety of chemicals into the skin, including histamine, and others which cause a painful reaction.

Stinging nettles are an important larval food for many types of butterflies and moths.

Folk medicine and lore worldwide attributes the powers of protection and fertility to this incredible plant.

Nettle fibres have been found in burial cloths from the Bronze age, also closely linking this plant with the threshold between life and death, and giving credence to the various folklore bits that describe Nettle as growing from or near the dead.

Nettle leaves produce a green dye that was used in wartime Europe to make camouflage and is used to this day in Germany to keep canned vegetables looking a healthy green.

In astrology, Nettle is considered a masculine plant and is governed by Mars. Nettle’s element is Fire.

Pluck young nettle leaves in the spring and dry or steam and then freeze to store. Cooking or drying will destroy the sting.

Nettle can be burned to drive out negativity or unwanted spirits. It can also be used in protection bags, our ground into a powder and used in spells to break curses.

Size 12.5cm sq

Original cast using fine casting plaster,

signed and dated 2023

This cast has been designed to be kept indoors.

It will be carefully packed in recycled packaging.