Burning nettle, Urtica urens, is also known as dwarf nettle or small nettle. It is native to Europe, but in the United States is common in many eastern states and a few central states. It also occurs in the Western United States, including Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. In California, burning nettle is widely distributed, although it is not known to occur in the desert, the Klamath Mountain range or in the higher regions of the Cascade Mountain range above 9800 feet. It is especially common along the California coast. Burning nettle commonly infests disturbed sites, such as fence rows, ditch banks and roadsides, but can also be a problematic weed in gardens, vegetable crops, sugar beets, citrus and deciduous orchards.
