Edible
Red Dead Nettle
Lamium purpureumLamiaceae family
also: Purple Dead Nettle · Blind Nettle
About this plant 01
A low-growing annual with soft heart-shaped toothed leaves and whorls of small purple-pink flowers. Despite resembling stinging nettle in leaf shape, it does not sting at all. One of the most underrated edible and medicinal farm weeds — and an exceptional early-season pollinator plant.
Notes for working with it 02
No toxicity concerns — entirely safe to handle and eat. Easy to identify by soft non-stinging leaves and purple-pink flowers in whorls up the stem.
Where you'll find it chilling 03
Ways to use it 04
Edible raw leaves & flowers
Young leaves and flowers entirely edible raw in salads. Mild, slightly earthy. Can also be cooked like spinach.
Herbal tea
Steep fresh or dried leaves and flowers for mild herbal tea. Traditionally used to support circulation and as gentle anti-inflammatory.
Astringent herb
Traditional medicinal use as astringent and anti-inflammatory. Poultice of crushed leaves applied to minor wounds and skin irritations.
Early pollinator plant
Flowers from January onwards — one of the first nectar sources of the year for bumblebees. Exceptional early-season value.
Specimen label 05
Next in the guide 06
No. 001 of 009
Stinging Nettle
Urtica dioica
Read it