Deadnettles resemble their distant cousin, the stinging nettle, in growth habit and leaves. In contrast to this, the leaves have no hairs that cause the notorious burning sensation. The flowers are also much larger than those of the stinging nettle. There are also dead nettles in different colors.

The dead nettle is very popular with bees and bumblebees

Facts and figures on dead nettle

  • Botanical name: Lamium
  • Name suffixes: album, purpureum, orvala, galeobdolon, argentatum, maculatum
  • Common names: bee's suction, magic herb, death herb, nettle, flower nettle
  • Family: Lamiaceae (Lamiaceae)
  • Origin: native plant, Asia
  • Species: around 80 worldwide
  • Distribution: worldwide
  • Site conditions: undemanding, shady, moist without waterlogging
  • Size: 20 to 80 cm depending on the variety
  • Leaves: Green, foliage-leaf-like, serrate, hairy but not flaming
  • Flowers: Lip-flowers on false whorls with short prophylls
  • Colours: white, pink, yellow, purple
  • Flowering time: all year round from March to November depending on the variety
  • Propagation: stolons, seeds, part fruits
  • Hardy: up to - 30 degrees
  • Toxicity: all parts of the plant are non-toxic
  • Use: ornamental plant, medicinal plant, animal feed, bumblebee pasture

use as a garden plant

The dead nettle is often wrongly referred to as a weed. The undemanding plant gets along wonderfully with shady locations and forms dense carpets there. Deadnettles can also be grown in pots or tubs without any problems.

When flowering, the plants give off a very sweet, aromatic scent. This also distinguishes dead nettles from stinging nettles.

However, dead nettle tends to spread uncontrollably. Creating a root barrier and getting rid of ants will help control overgrowth. Ants ensure the spread by dragging the partial fruits.

use in the kitchen

Deadnettles are not poisonous. Leaves and flowers are edible and are used in salads, fish dishes and to decorate desserts.

In addition, the dead nettle is considered a medicinal plant that has been used in natural medicine for centuries.

Other uses

Planting dead nettles is particularly worthwhile for natural gardens. With their sweet scent and bright colors, the labiate flowers attract bumblebees with their long proboscises and other insects.

tips and tricks

Deadnettles are also very popular with pets such as guinea pigs, rabbits and turtles. For feeding, however, you should only use plants that you are sure have not been sprayed or contaminated in any other way.

Category:

Herbs