There are several species of wild dead-nettle in the UK, as well as many cultivated varieties that are grown in gardens as groundcover plants. Dead-nettles are members of the Lamiaceae or mint family. They have nettle-like leaves which are often covered in hairs. Hooded flowers grow in whorls around the stem and come in a variety of colours depending on the species. Although dead-nettles resemble nettles, they’re in a different family of plants and they don’t sting.
How to identify dead nettles
Red dead-nettle
Red dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum) is one of the most common wild dead-nettles found across Britain and Ireland. Also known as purple dead-nettle, this annual has pinky-purple flowers growing in whorls around the stem. It grows to a height of around 40cm.
White dead-nettle
White dead-nettle (Lamium album) is another common wild plant which reaches around 60cm. This herbaceous perennial grows in hedges and on roadsides and rough ground. As its name suggests, it has white flowers.
Spotted dead-nettle
Spotted dead-nettle (Lamium maculatum) is a perennial garden escape which has become common in the wild across much of England. It grows to 60cm and the leaves are usually covered in silver blotches. Flowers are pinky-purple, though they can vary considerably in colour, and the lower petal can have darker purple blotches.
Yellow archangel
Yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon) is no longer in the same genus as other dead-nettles, but it’s sometimes known as yellow dead-nettle. This perennial grows to around 6ocm and can be found in woodland and hedgerows. Lamiastrum galeobdolon subsp. montanum is the most common native subspecies. It has green leaves and hairy stems.
Lamiastrum galeobdolon subsp. argentatum is a garden escape. It can be identified by the silver-white blotches on its leaves which persist all year. It’s an invasive non-native species listed on Schedule 9 of the UK Wildlife & Countryside Act. It’s an offence to plant it in the wild or allow it to spread from your garden into the wild.
Value to wildlife
Dead-nettles are good for wildlife. Their long flowering period provides nectar for long-tongued pollinating insects including bumblebees and solitary bees. Their leaves are also a food source for a number of beetles, aphids, flies and caterpillars of several moth species, such as the garden tiger and large twin-spot carpet.
How to grow dead nettle
Dead nettles are suitable for wildlife gardens and wildflower meadows.
Where to grow dead nettle
Dead-nettles are ideal to use as ground cover in wildlife areas and to sow or plant in wildflower meadows.
How to plant dead nettle
Sow dead-nettle seed in well-prepared soil where you want it to flower. In wildflower meadows, plant out plug plants or sow seeds in areas of bare soil.
How to care for dead nettle
Dead-nettles need very little care once established.
Foraging for dead nettles
Dead-nettles are not poisonous to humans and they don’t sting, but they can be confused with stinging nettles and some poisonous plants, such as foxgloves, especially before the flowers appear. Young red and white dead-nettle leaves can be used sparingly in salads and steamed as a vegetable. As with all foraged plants, check that you don’t have a condition that means you shouldn’t eat them and seek advice from a doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you’re foraging, make sure you use good field guides to identify plants or go on a guided walk with an expert.
Don’t pick unless you’re 100 per cent certain your identification is correct. Only collect where plants are abundant (generally the advice is only to harvest from one in 20 plants) and leave plenty behind for wildlife. Seek permission before foraging and bear in mind that uprooting any plant is illegal without the landowner’s permission.
Pests and diseases
Dead-nettles are generally free of diseases. If you find caterpillars or other invertebrates on your dead-nettles, you know your plants are supporting healthy garden ecosystems.
Buying advice
- Check that plants are healthy before buying
- Grow on small plug plants before planting out into meadow areas
- Make sure wildflower seed has UK provenance, preferably as local as possible, so it’s less likely to have an impact on the genetic make-up of native wildflower populations
Where to buy dead nettle plugs and seeds online
Dead-nettle species and varieties to grow
Balm-leaved red dead-nettle (Lamium orvala) has deep red-purple hooded flowers with large, heart-shaped leaves.
Height x Spread: 50cm x 50cm
Lamium maculatum ‘Beacon Silver’ is a variety of low-growing spotted dead-nettle with silver foliage and pink flowers. It’s ideal to plant as shade-tolerant ground cover.
H x S: 15cm x 60cm
Lamium maculatum ‘Roseum’ has the characteristic spotted dead-nettle silvery-white leaves with spires of pinky-purple flowers.
H x S: 15cm x 60cm
Lamium maculatum ‘White Nancy’ has silver leaves edged in green and pure white flowers.
H x S: 30cm x 60cm
Golden dead-nettle (Lamium maculatum ‘Aureum’) has bright golden yellow foliage and soft pink flowers.
H x S: 15cm x 60cm
