Red dead nettle (Lamium purpureum) belongs to the Lamiaceae or mint family. Other common names include purple dead nettle, purple archangle, red henbit and French nettle. It is a hardy herbaceous annual native to Europe and Asia.
This useful little plant can be found in fertile cultivated ground such as gardens, roadside verges, hedgerows, meadows and at the edge of woodlands. Although it looks very similar to the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), it isn't related and certainly won't sting. The word 'dead' in the name refers to this fact.
Growing methods
Red dead nettle is easily grown from seed which can be sown at any time of the year but probably best in spring or autumn for over wintering. Sow in situ in fertile soil that has been raked to a fine tilth. Cover the seed lightly with soil. Germination takes between 20 and 60 days at around 17-20°C. Red dead nettle prefers full sun or partial shade and a sheltered position. It will grow in most types of moist well-drained soil.
The upper leaves are a reddish colour and the stem is square, as is common with other dead nettle species. The flowers come in various shades of pink colour. Flowering begins in March and goes on until October. Seeds are produced from April to November. This plant will reach a height of around 30 cm and spreads to about 18 cm wide. It self seeds freely so once you have it, you are likely to keep it, which is a good thing. If the plants are cut back, they will regrow so you can use it as a cut-and-come-again plant.
Other uses
Red dead nettle is a plant which attracts wildlife including pollinating insects. It is an important source of nectar for bees and butterflies early and late in the year. Ants eat the elaisosome, which is a little white fleshy part attached to the seed. Once eaten, the seed is discarded and thus these industrial little ants help with seed dispersal. Red dead nettle is an excellent ground cover plant for a forest (or any) garden. The plant has medicinal properties and has long been used in folk medicine.
Raw edible parts
The tops and leaves of the younger plants are edible raw and can be used in salads or smoothies. They can also be used to make a herbal tea. Cooked, the leaves are used in stir fries or soups and the plant was traditionally used as a pot herb. The leaves are available at most times of the year, often in the winter which makes this a very useful source of green leaves.
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| Red dead nettle (Lamium purpureum) |
This useful little plant can be found in fertile cultivated ground such as gardens, roadside verges, hedgerows, meadows and at the edge of woodlands. Although it looks very similar to the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), it isn't related and certainly won't sting. The word 'dead' in the name refers to this fact.
Growing methods
Red dead nettle is easily grown from seed which can be sown at any time of the year but probably best in spring or autumn for over wintering. Sow in situ in fertile soil that has been raked to a fine tilth. Cover the seed lightly with soil. Germination takes between 20 and 60 days at around 17-20°C. Red dead nettle prefers full sun or partial shade and a sheltered position. It will grow in most types of moist well-drained soil.
 |
| Red dead nettle (Lamium purpureum) |
The upper leaves are a reddish colour and the stem is square, as is common with other dead nettle species. The flowers come in various shades of pink colour. Flowering begins in March and goes on until October. Seeds are produced from April to November. This plant will reach a height of around 30 cm and spreads to about 18 cm wide. It self seeds freely so once you have it, you are likely to keep it, which is a good thing. If the plants are cut back, they will regrow so you can use it as a cut-and-come-again plant.
Other uses
Red dead nettle is a plant which attracts wildlife including pollinating insects. It is an important source of nectar for bees and butterflies early and late in the year. Ants eat the elaisosome, which is a little white fleshy part attached to the seed. Once eaten, the seed is discarded and thus these industrial little ants help with seed dispersal. Red dead nettle is an excellent ground cover plant for a forest (or any) garden. The plant has medicinal properties and has long been used in folk medicine.
 |
| Red dead nettle (Lamium purpureum) leaf |
Raw edible parts
The tops and leaves of the younger plants are edible raw and can be used in salads or smoothies. They can also be used to make a herbal tea. Cooked, the leaves are used in stir fries or soups and the plant was traditionally used as a pot herb. The leaves are available at most times of the year, often in the winter which makes this a very useful source of green leaves.
