A rhizomatous, perennial herb with scrambling stems. In a damp area with surrounding vegetation it may grow to over 2 metres. It is more likely to grow to less than a metre in an open area, on the banks of a waterway. The leaves are bright green and have jagged edges. All parts of the plant are covered in tiny stinging hairs.

The species can resemble other creek verge species such as Lycopus australis (Austral Gypsywort) and the introduced *Verbena bonariensis (Purple-top) and *Verbena officionalis. It may be readily disinguished by brushing bare skin against it to check if it will sting. If you would rather avoid this uncomfortable identification method, a close comparison of the foliage in the pictures on the IFFA web pages and with those in a good weed guide such as Weeds of the South-east should help. Notice in particular the way that three main veins emerge from the junction of the with its stem in the photo of Scrub Nettle. Later in summer, the Verbenas will have prominent purple flowers at the top of the plant and Austral Gypsywort has clusters of white flowers in the axils along the stems. The flowers of Urtica incisa are tiny and greenish, on fine stems gathered at the leaf axils.

Gardeners and farmers are likely to be more familiar with the Common Nettle, *Urtica urens which is an introduced species. It commonly occurs in well watered areas where the soil has been enriched by nitrogenous waste, such as where sheep or cattle gather below trees or in the yards of shearing sheds. It is an annual with smaller, more rounded leaves.