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| Red Dead-Nettle; Lamium purpureum L. |
Mint Family; LABIATÆ (LAMIACEÆ)
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| Red Dead-Nettle is a naturalized, weedy, mint-like annual herb with hollow square stems, and softly hairy leaves in opposite
pairs. The plant's upper portion is tinted purplish. Little pink-purple flowers from
1/3 to
2/3 inches long cluster tightly at the ends of the
stems. The seedlings usually begin life in autumn or winter, then commence flowering early in spring. As soon as the seeds ripen the plants
dry up and perish. While young, and in particular when a colony is in full bloom, it is beautiful: a soft pink-purple carpet. But being weak,
it's easily mangled and unfortunately grows ugly by summertime, especially when infected with powdery mildew. Neither a serious pest
nor notably useful, this Dead-Nettle is merely a weed. Yet several of its perennial cousins are exquisite ornamentals and adequate salad plants: their virtue consists in being colorful, shade-tolerant, fast-growing groundcovers.
Lamium maculatum is one such delightful species,
its leaves deep green streaked vivid white. |
| The names Dead-Nettle, Dumb-Nettle, Deaf-Nettle and Blind-Nettle, refer to the foliage resemblance between stinging,
burning, itching nettles (Urtica spp.) and these harmless mimics. Archangel is another name, of puzzling pertinence. Red Dead-nettle is
also specifically called Red Archangel, or Purple Dead-Nettle, or Red Henbit. Henbit proper, a very similar weed
(Lamium amplexicaule L.) grows wild, too, but is less common in most areas. Its leaves are shorter and more nicked in the edges. |
| Dead-Nettles are fuzzy with hairs, and blandly flavored, but their stem tips and flowers are edible, raw or cooked. Their unusual
mildly sweet taste and chewy texture serve as striking contrast to the regular salad fare of crisp, watery ingredients. John Gerard wrote of
them nearly 400 years ago: "The floures are baked with sugar as Roses are, which is called Sugar roset: as also the distilled water of them,
which is used to make the heart merry, to make a good colour in the face, and to refresh the vitall spirits." |
So next time you see Dead-Nettles alive in your garden, remember that these humble European weeds, if not to your liking, are at
least better than many weeds that might be growing in their stead. With their shallow roots, and short lifespan, their grip on life is anything
but tenacious, you can easily control them.
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Originally published as the Seattle Tilth newsletter Weed of the Month in May 1986, along with an illustration drawn by Jerri Geer.
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