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Stinging nettles in a pot
Lucid
Posts: 387
Hi everyone,
I'm trying to create a wildlife friendly garden and have read that stinging nettles are important food for some species of butterfly. If I was to grow some in a pot would this stop them from spreading elsewhere, or are they able to self seed all around the garden?
Thanks for your help,
Lucid 
0
Posts
Hi Lucid, pretty sure nettles self seed.
They certainly do seed but not if you cut the flowers off. The caterpillars like the new young growth that follows a cut back.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Nettles are very common, and nettle-feeding butterflies are quite selective about where they lay - you're unlikely to attract any with a few nettles in a pot. You'd be better growing more flowers instead.
I agree with the above, I have loads of nettles everywhere here, never seen a butterfly on them, I think they use the road hedges and field margins, grow some nice bee and butterfly friendly plants, looks much nicer.
You wont find one more untidy than mine, I can never keep on top it, more wildlife areas than tidy bits!
Lyn, your garden sounds like mine! Always running round trying to catch up, never seem to have the time or energy to do things when they should be done. It still manages to look lovely and some weeds are so pretty that if you don't tell people they won't know! Nettles not in that category though and they are spiteful things. I do keep them away from where I walk most and have nettle persecution days when I'm in the mood. Still more than enough in our 'wilderness' and the sheep fields for the butterflies!
Mine too Lyn.
tbh I don't think I'd bother with nettles in pots. If there are no nettles in the area the butterflies won't come from miles away to use yours. and if there are nettles in the area, they'll do the job.
In the sticks near Peterborough
I think maybe butterflies go for large areas of nettles. I have quite a sizeable nettle patch in one corner of the garden and usually get plenty of caterpillars there. I also have odd nettles that manage to grow in other places when my back is turned but they don't ever seem to have caterpillars.
Hi everyone,
Thanks so much for all of the excellent advice. I think my conclusion is that we will avoid nettles then as it doesn't seem worthwhile. Just trying to include everything I can to help them along, but at the same time don't want an invasion of nettles.
Lucid
If you want to grow a food plant for caterpillars why not grow Hedge Garlic/Jack by the Hedge http://www.wildfooduk.com/hedgerow-food-guide/hedge-garlic-hedgerow/ - it's pretty and not too invasive and you can eat it ....... and it's the food plant for the caterpillars of the Orange-tip butterfly - one of the first signs of spring
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.