Nettle me this! Know your regional pests

Community Engagement Advisor from Greater Wellington Regional Council

Although nettle can make a nice tea on occasion, the perennial nettle (Urtica diocia) that our pest plants team deal with can form dense patches that compete with other native species for space and light. Livestock also don’t like it which reduces the area available for grazing. Not to mention it stings! (Which is not a reason for controlling it of course but we are happy about that).

The upright herb can grow up to 1.5 metres tall and has leaves that are heart shaped and toothed, covered in hairs that may sting. It’s often found in older gardens, forest margins, pasture, streams and river banks.

Our pest plants team are mostly finding it around rivers and streams in the Wairarapa, but have also found it in areas which are grazed by livestock. So, if you think you’ve seen perennial nettle, the team wants to know. They’ll control it for free! Contact pest.plants@gw.govt.nz.

Read more about perennial nettle and what you can do about it here: www.gwrc.govt.nz...

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