Last Spring, I fell in love with the unassuming (and yet strikingly beautiful) Lamium Purpureum, otherwise known as Purple (or occasionally Red) Deadnettle. This wild forageable is considered a “weed” in many a yard and garden and yet has great medicinal, edible, and magical properties. It has the added benefit of growing quite profusely so you can consumer freely without worry of your impact on an endangered species (something I’m keen on keeping in mind as part of my Localvore journey). What more is there to love?
I first became aware of Purple Deadnettle after seeing it on a Youtube channel – it turns out, it was growing in my neighborhood the whole time! Due to its slight stature, this little plant can be easily overlooked.
Purple Deadnettle (Also sometimes called Purple Archangel) is found around the world. In warmer areas, it is a annual Winter weed that provides much needed ground cover – here in Southern New England it is a early Spring flower that blooms for about six weeks starting in late March or early April depending on the season. It is highly distinguishable by its square stem (proving its membership to the mint family) and distinct red/purple leaves. It can grow up to 8-10 inches tall but generally prefers to stick close to the ground.
It is a super food – all parts of the plant are edible though its leaves are fuzzy so it can be a strange experience to eat it on its own. It can be added to salads, used as an edible garnish, made into pesto, or added as a green to smoothies. It’s flavor is green and reminiscent of grass or clover.
Medicinally, it is an astringent, diaphoretic, and purgative. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties. It’s leaves can be made into a salve or applied directly for on-the-go wound care. Consumption slows the production of histamines so it has a claim to fame as a plant used to treat seasonal allergies.
It can be dried and drunk as a tea but can have a laxative effect if consumed in quantity. It is also listed as unsafe for pregnant and breastfeeding humans.
On of the best quality of this wonder-plant, in my opinion, is that it is one of the earliest bee friendly flowers that blooms in the colder climates. Bees and other native pollinators seem to prefer Purple Dead Nettle to other plants. Yet another reason not the mow this lovely plant down and let it thrive!
Magically it is associated with happiness and cheerfulness and considered useful for grounding when combined with yarrow. Like all hearty plants that will grow “anywhere” it also has an association with strength and resiliency. For magical purposes, dead nettle is most often dried and turned into an incense blend or tea (see the above-mentioned warning about drinking too much of it.)
Needless to say, when my lovely neighbor offered to let me gather some of her last season, I happily dried it and used it as part of my Equinox ritual. (I still haven’t written about that yet but I promise, it’s coming) And so was the deadnettle! The very afternoon the my candle spell completed, the same kindly neighbor offered some deadnettle that she was culling from her yard and now I am growing it as well!
Last but not least, I wanted to share a fun fact. The Latin name for Purple Dead Nettle (lamium purpurium) means “diminutive purple monster” – a nickname given to the plant that spread out of control. Laugh all you want but be careful where you plant it if you don’t want a yard FULL of dead nettle. But for real – who wouldn’t want a yard full of dead nettle? Certainly not me…