URTICACEAE
While often overlooked as a simple garden weed, the Nettle family represents one of the most important ecological cornerstones in the British landscape. Their high nitrogen content and formidable defences make them a specialized habitat for dozens of insect species.
Common Stinging Nettle
Urtica dioicaHeight: 50–150 cm | Flowering: June – September
Known for its silica-tipped stinging hairs, the Common Nettle is a resilient perennial found throughout Lancing’s hedgerows, garden edges, and waste ground.
Larval Foodplant for:
Comma, Red Admiral, Peacock, Painted Lady, and Small
Tortoiseshell.
The Butterfly Nursery: The
nettle’s sting serves a brilliant purpose—it protects the
larvae of our most iconic butterflies from grazing
mammals. By providing a safe, nutrient-rich environment,
"nettle patches" are essential for maintaining the
butterfly populations of Lancing Ring and the surrounding
village.