In precarious garden locations, the dead nettle will not let you down. The distinctive wild perennial decorates the poorly lit shady bed as a solitaire and ground cover with colorful flowers and beautiful foliage. If you still have questions about cultivation in your head, you will find a practical answer here.

Not only does deadnettle look cute, its edible flowers taste sweet too

Table of Contents

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  1. Plant deadnettle properly
  2. care tips
  3. Which location is suitable?
  4. The right planting distance
  5. What soil does the plant need?
  6. What is the best planting time?
  7. When is flowering time?
  8. Cut deadnettle properly
  9. Pour deadnettle
  10. Fertilize dead nettle properly
  11. hibernate
  12. multiply deadnettle
  13. How do I plant correctly?
  14. Deadnettle in pot
  15. Is dead nettle poisonous?
  16. Deadnettle does not bloom
  17. How do I prepare deadnettle flower tea?
  18. How do I distinguish dead nettles from stinging nettles?
  19. Beautiful varieties

    20. Plant deadnettle properly

    To ensure that the valuable wild perennial develops its vigorous growth right from the start in the garden, pay attention to the following aspects when planting:

    • Place the still potted root ball in water
    • Dig a pit twice the size of the root ball in a semi-shady to shady spot
    • Mix the excavated soil with compost and horn shavings
    • Plant the potted deadnettle up to the lower pair of leaves and water

    Planting in the pot is similar, with some potsherds or pebbles underneath the substrate for drainage.

    care tips

    To list all the factors of caring for a dead nettle, the fingers of one hand are enough. How to do it right:

    • Watering during summer drought
    • Fertilize organically if necessary from April to August
    • Cut off wilted flowers immediately, the foliage only in early spring
    • Light winter protection only required in the planter

    If there are no flowers in the first year, you have still done everything right. The majority of dead nettle species and varieties do not flower until the second or third year.

    Which location is suitable?

    In the wild, the dead nettle is an assertive pioneer plant. Wherever it is not exposed to direct sunlight, the colorful blossoms shine towards us. Settle the ornamental plant in the garden in these locations:

    • Half-shady to shady location
    • Loose garden soil, humus and rich in nutrients
    • Gladly sandy-loamy to fresh-moist, with no risk of waterlogging

    Deadnettles are therefore the ideal candidates for greening a poorly lit bed under the dense canopy of tall trees. The sunnier the location, the wetter the location should be.

    The right planting distance

    If the deadnettle acts as a ground cover in a semi-shady bed or under deciduous trees, place the plants at a distance of 25 cm, or 16 specimens per square metre. The noble wild perennials with a growth height of up to 60 cm set decorative accents as a solitaire in poorly lit locations if they are planted at a distance of 45 cm, or 4 specimens per square meter.

    What soil does the plant need?

    The dead nettle develops its rapid growth in nutrient-rich soil, which is at the same time loose and freshly moist. Botanists therefore assign the plant to the freshness and nitrogen indicators. The wild perennial proves to be tolerant of soil acidity as long as it is not confronted with an overly acidic or strongly alkaline pH value. In the bucket, the popular bumblebee is satisfied with commercially available compost-based potting soil.

    What is the best planting time?

    Plants grown in containers can be planted throughout the growing season. Provide deadnettles with ideal starting conditions for plant life by planting the young plants between mid-May and mid-June.

    When is flowering time?

    The chosen variety defines the flowering time of a dead nettle. While the wild species bloom for what feels like an eternity from April to October, hybrids usually present their flowers from May to July. The breeds make up for the shorter flowering period with decorative attributes, such as a magnificent foliage pattern.
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    Cut deadnettle properly

    In a near-natural garden, pruning dead nettles is not necessarily one of the indispensable care measures. Give the wintergreen lamiaceae a free hand, they will sprout independently and drop their leaves shortly before the new shoots in spring. If you do not want self-seeding and are bothered by the appearance of the withered leaves, cut the ornamental plant as follows:

    • After flowering, cut off the withered heads before the seed pods develop
    • Cut off the evergreen foliage close to the ground in February/March as soon as the foliage has withdrawn

    Pour deadnettle

    Under normal weather conditions, a dead nettle is content with the natural amount of rain. Watering is only done if the drought persists. In pot culture, on the other hand, there is a regular need for watering. Check the substrate with your thumb every 2-3 days to water when the soil surface has dried. The perennial is satisfied with normal tap water.

    Fertilize dead nettle properly

    The dead nettle has a vital growth potential that does not require additional nutrients in classic garden soil. However, if there are signs of deficiency, such as limp leaves and stunted flowers, give a portion of compost or horse manure every 3-4 weeks from April to August. In the narrow substrate volume of the balcony box or tub, apply a liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks during the summer.

    hibernate

    The dead nettle is completely hardy. Even temperatures of -30 degrees Celsius do not cause any problems for the flower. Instead, the evergreen species and varieties adorn the garden during the cold season. Therefore, only cut the plant down to the ground in early spring to make room for the next shoot. Only the withered inflorescences are cut off in autumn if self-sowing is not desired. If you cultivate the dead nettles in the planter, the root ball could freeze through here. Wrap a bucket or balcony box with bubble wrap and place it on wood or styrofoam.

    multiply deadnettle

    The majority of dead nettle species show a vital urge to reproduce. By self-sowing and root suckers, they colonize the bed within a short time. If you would like to decide for yourself where the journey is going, you can choose from the following methods:

    • Division of the root ball in autumn
    • Separation of root suckers
    • Use of non-flowering shoots as cuttings in summer
    • Sow the seeds directly into the bed between March and June

    How do I plant correctly?

    If the previous location of a dead nettle later proves to be unsuitable, replanting is quite uncomplicated. Dig up the root ball in early spring or better after flowering in autumn. Too long foothills can be cut off with a spade beforehand. At the new location, place the nettle in the soil prepared with compost while maintaining the previous planting depth and water generously. Don't cut back the flower completely at this point to allow the foliage to act as a natural winter shelter. The root runners remaining in the soil at the previous location should be completely removed, as the plant will happily sprout from them again.

    Deadnettle in pot

    With rustic charm, the deadnettle in a pot adorns semi-shady and shady corners on the balcony or terrace. Do not choose the pot size too small if you choose one of the high-growing noble varieties. Above the water drain in the floor, drainage made of grit (€46.95) or expanded clay (€19.73) prevents harmful waterlogging. Common potting soil meets the requirements as a substrate. How to properly care for the foliage plant:

    • Water regularly with normal tap water
    • Fertilize liquid every 4 weeks from April to August
    • Cut off the heads after flowering to keep the seeds from flying around the garden
    • Cut back close to the ground in early spring

    If winter is just around the corner, wrap the pot in bubble wrap and slide a block of wood under it. Pots with a diameter of less than 30 cm move to a bright, frost-free winter quarters. Continue watering when the substrate dries. There will be no fertilization until March.

    Is dead nettle poisonous?

    The dead nettle is by no means poisonous. On the contrary, the mint family has made a name for itself as a medicinal plant and food. Prepared as a tea, the flowers alleviate a wide range of health ailments. Young children are keen to suck the sweet nectar from the deadnettle flowers. Harvest the delicate buds just before flowering to cook up a tasty, healthy vegetable reminiscent of spinach.
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    Deadnettle does not bloom

    Don't be surprised if a deadnettle doesn't bloom in the first year. The vast majority of all species and varieties do not develop their first blooms until the second or third year in the garden. By then, the plant will develop a sufficient amount of leaves with enough potential to support the buds.

    How do I prepare deadnettle flower tea?

    Deadnettle flowers have natural healing powers against a wide variety of ailments. Prepared as a tea, they relieve, among other things, bladder problems, intestinal problems, coughs or insomnia. In the case of skin injuries or minor burns, washing with dead nettle blossom tea promises rapid healing. How to harvest the flowers and prepare the tea:

    • In summer, cut off the deadnettle flowers before seed formation begins
    • Pour 250ml of boiling water over 2 teaspoons of fresh or dried flowers
    • Leave for 15 minutes and strain

    If the plants come from organic cultivation in the hobby garden, give your children the blossoms to suck on. The little ones will be amazed by the sweet taste of the nectar.
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    How do I distinguish dead nettles from stinging nettles?

    Of course, you can bravely read the sheets to see the difference. However, it is less painful to pay attention to the optical distinguishing features. Look out for the white, maroon-red, pink, or yellow deadnettle flowers. Stinging nettles don't bloom that well. Their flowers are tiny and greenish.

    Beautiful varieties

    • White Nancy: Premium variety with green-edged, silvery shimmering leaves and white flowers; Growth height 15 cm
    • Elisabeth de Haas: Beautiful Spotted Deadnettle boasting purplish purple flowers; Growth height 15-20 cm
    • Pink Pewter: A distinctive silverleaf deadnettle that adds bright pink pops of color to the shade bed; Growth height 15 cm
    • Nettle King: The large-flowered deadnettle impresses with its noble silhouette and brown-red flowers; Growth height 40-60 cm
    • Goldnettle: A regal cultivar with golden yellow flowers and oval, pointed leaves with serrated edges; Growth height 20-30 cm
    • Red Nancy: Great problem solver for shady, dry locations with slightly acidic soil; Growth height 15-20 cm

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Herbs