Horsenettle versus stinging nettle

I was told that the property I’ll be moving onto next month was covered with “stinging nettle” and got really excited (which was not the reaction the person telling me expected!) I’ve read here about it as a superfood, fertilizer, arthritis treatment, fiber arts source… I couldn’t wait to start harvesting.

Visited in person and…. Nope. It’s not stinging nettle, Urtica diocia the amazing. It’s two kinds of horsenettle, Solanum dimidiatum and Solanum carolinense.  Which is apparently quite poisonous and doesn’t make great fibers or fertilizer tea.

Anyone know of ANY redeeming qualities? Does it at least help with arthritis? Does it stop stinging once it wilts like true nettle does?

Such a bummer to find out my treasure trove is in fact fool’s gold!

Julie, I only know the carolinense one.  I've never seen the western.

The one I know of is good for one thing, a test of the nerves in your fingers while hand weeding the garden.  Those #&$%* thorns on the stem go all the way to ground level.  You'll know it very well if you ever try to pull one out.  Even the young plants have those thorns.

I've never had a reaction to this nettle, and only mild reactions to the stinging nettle.

Good luck on your new land.

Peace

All plants have redeeming qualities.

In the case for horse nettle it can be `chop and drop` to put nutrients back into the soil.

Horse nettle can be added to compost piles to make compost.  Folks can never have too much compost.

It can be made into compost teas to use as fertilizer or insecticide.

Wikipedia says it is used to make medicines though does explain which.

Thank you Deane and Anne! And I appreciate the reminder, Anne, to keep my mind open to what constitutes useful.

Off topic a bit, but I do know from personal experience that jewelweed, crushed and rubbed on stinging nettle burns works wonders to relieve the sting...almost immediately, and it usually grows right next to it.

Maybe you could chop and drop and then seed S N on top of it, if they require similar growing conditions.

Also found this:

Carolina horsenettle (Solanum carolinense) has many uses, including medicinal, ornamental, and ecological benefits:
Medicinal: Native Americans and early settlers used many parts of the plant for medicinal purposes, including:
Berries: Used as a diuretic, painkiller, antispasmodic, and aphrodisiac, and to treat epilepsy, asthma, bronchitis, and other convulsive disorders
Berry juice: Used to treat tetanus
Roots: Used as a sedative
Seeds: An infusion of the seeds can be gargled to treat sore throats and drunk to treat goiter
Leaves: A tea made from the wilted leaves can be gargled to treat sore throats and drunk to treat worms, and a poultice made from the leaves can be applied to poison ivy rash
Ornamental: The plant's purple blooms and golden fruit can add color to a garden
Ecological: The plant's star-shaped flowers attract bees and butterflies, and its roots help control erosion

Julie, I forgot to mention in the post last week, about the chop and drop please be very careful in dropping these &%$#* plants helpers and do keep them out of your walking paths, if you're like me and shun shoes during the warmer months, I'm sure you can figure out how I learned that lesson.

Also if you plan to compost the plants please dig deep into the center of the pile to add the nettle material this may help to ensure complete composting.  Can you guess what part of the nettle is mostly likely not to completely compost, if you are like me and don't wear gloves??

I did make a vile mixture of the stinging kind soaked in a bucket of water several weeks before planting my tomatoes. placing some under each transplant.  I didn't use it with any others just the tomatoes, I really know why only them.

Peace

I get why you’re disappointed—stinging nettle has so many cool uses! Unfortunately, horsenettle doesn’t have the same range of benefits.
Redeeming qualities? Well, horsenettle has a few, but they’re pretty limited compared to stinging nettle.
It can provide habitat and food for some wildlife, though it's not as beneficial as other plants.
Some traditional uses exist, but they’re less well-documented and less effective compared to other herbs. It’s not known to help with arthritis, and it definitely doesn’t have the beneficial properties of true nettle.
Its spiny leaves can act as a deterrent to some pests, though this is a bit of a stretch.
It doesn’t stop stinging when wilted like true nettle does. The plant is toxic, and it’s generally best to avoid handling or consuming it.
watch this video about horse nettle