Different leaf colors blend almost like a tapestry but the dark leaf with the white center stripe, Lamium, is a native perennial that has re-seeded from the pale silver foliage of the hybrid Lamium, ‘Beacon Silver.

Do you cut back dead nettle in the fall?

Lamiums are usually divided in late fall or winter when they form dense mats, but you can thin the plants during spring or summer to control growth before it is safe to divide the perennials. … Only cut the ends of the plants during dormancy or when plants finish blooming.

Should I plant dead nettle?

Dead-nettle is planted equally successfully in spring or fall and preferably in cool and rather shade-covered soil. Regular garden soil is perfect for dead-nettle. Even though Lamium maculatum does tolerate full sun, its cousin Lamium galeobdelon must absolutely be planted in the shade.

How do I use dead nettles in my garden?

Use fresh dead nettle along with chickweed, dandelion greens, and other “weeds” to make a wild greens pesto. Purple deadnettle can also be added to soups, salads, or blended into smoothies. Basically any way that you would use any other green leafy vegetable or herb.

When should Nettles be cut back?

To get rid of stinging nettles, cut them down in early summer before they start to flower and use a garden fork to dig up the roots of the plants. Hoe beds regularly to kill stinging nettle seedlings, or dig up individual seedlings with a hand fork.

Is Spotted dead nettle poisonous to dogs?

Plants Poisonous to Dogs with Mild Effects While many plants can result in mild toxicity, these are some of the most common: Ivy, poinsettia, tansy, nettle, wisteria (seeds/pods), and iris can all result in mild to severe digestive upset.

Do rabbits eat dead nettle?

Purple Dead Nettle Purple dead nettles are actually a member of the mint family, which is also safe for rabbits to eat.

Is Lamium Purple Dragon invasive?

After flowering, plants can be cut back to encourage fresh foliage cover. Lamium maculatum species is native to Europe, temperate western Asia and North Africa. It can form a dense mound that overtakes ground area. Find where this species is invasive in the United States.

Is Lamium a good ground cover?

Lamium plants are a perfect deer resistant groundcover to brighten a partly sunny to semi-shady spot. Vigorous without being invasive, Lamium produce dainty snapdragon-like flowers in colors from white, to pink to purple. Attractive two-toned foliage provides interest even when the flowers are not in bloom.

Is Spotted dead nettle poisonous?

Once the plants are flowering, there are no poisonous, similar looking plants in that small size. (Large plants, 8+ inches tall, with similar flowers can be dangerous). At maturity, the top leaves of deadnettle turn purple or purply green, and at this stage they have no poisonous look a like plants at all.

Article first time published on

Does dead nettle grow in full sun?

Spotted deadnettle grows best in part shade — especially the silver types. Lamium maculatum grows best in part shade (especially for silver types which often need more light to maintain their color) or shade in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil, but in our climate will even grow in full sun.

What are dead nettles good for?

People take white dead nettle flower for treating mild swelling (inflammation) of the upper airways. They also take it for its calming effects (as a sedative). White dead nettle flower is sometimes applied directly to the affected area for mild inflammation of the mouth, throat, and skin; and for vaginal discharge.

How do you propagate spotted dead nettle?

Propagating Lamium Simply push a stem (still attached to the mother plant) down to the ground and cover it with soil so only the tip is visible. The tip will soon grow into a new plant. Division. Gently dig up the lamium plant in the spring or fall and separate it.

What is the difference between dead nettle and stinging nettle?

Deadnettle (Lamium spp) is similar in height and appearance to stinging nettles. … Deadnettles have smoother leaves and a green stem (white arrow). Stinging nettles leaves (red arrow) have a slightly furry appearance due to the stings.

Is purple dead nettle poisonous to cats?

Stinging Nettle Are Toxic To Pets | Pet Poison Helpline.

What can I plant with dead nettles?

Choose companions wisely for dead nettles to create a colorful, textural tapestry; interplant Lamium with Coral Bells, Cyclamen, or Bulbs & Tubers.

Are nettles good for the garden?

Because it’s rich in nitrogen, this is particularly useful for leafy vegetables like kale, chard and spinach. You can also cut nettles to lay, as they are, around larger plants or shrubby fruits, where they will serve as a valuable mulch. Their high nitrogen content also makes them a natural compost activator.

How do you stop nettle stings from growing back?

Stinging nettle may be removed by hand, taking care to protect the skin with gloves and other appropriate attire. Be sure to remove the underground rhizomes completely or the weed will continue to come back. Close mowing or “weed whacking” can retard growth as well.

What animals eat nettles?

Stinging nettles are great wildlife attractors: caterpillars of the small tortoiseshell and peacock butterflies use them as foodplants; ladybirds feast on the aphids that shelter among them; and seed-eating birds enjoy their autumn spoils.

Is milk thistle good for rabbits?

A tasty treat and a great supplement for rabbits. Contains natural fibre as well as vitamins & minerals. Milk thistle is a natural anti-oxidant and may help with liver and kidney function.

Is Clover good for bunnies?

Clover is a preferred food of rabbits and provides much of the nutrition they need during warmer parts of the year. Cottontails will eat a variety of clover including White clover (Trifolium repens L.)

How many dandelions can a rabbit eat?

On the amounts to give them, a chopped cup of 4-5 leafy greens including dandelions is enough for a rabbit weighing two pounds a day. There are many greens you can go for including arugula, carrot tops, kales, lettuce, turnips, mint, basil, dill leaves, raspberry leaves, cilantro, and so on.

Can cats eat red dead nettle?

Nettle, also known as Urtica dioica or stinging nettle, is a plant that has many nutritive values.

Are astrantia poisonous to dogs?

Plants very poisonous to dogs Keep your dog well away from these plants and flowers as some parts of these are very poisonous to dogs and can even be fatal: Astrantia. Clematis. Craspedia.

Why is my dead nettle dying?

Growing Conditions and Care In hot weather, irrigation is important to keep spotted dead nettle from dying back in patches. This habit of dying back in hot weather is referred to as melting out. Spotted dead nettle doesn’t commonly suffer from pest or disease problems.

When should Lamium be planted?

Plant yellow-flowered lamium in a shady spot during fall. Plant white and purple-flowered species in full sun during spring.

Is Lamium an evergreen?

Lamium is a genus with many cultivars that are outstanding foliage plants for the shade, most notably ‘White Nancy’. This evergreen ground cover’s beautiful, 1- to 2-inch-wide leaves are silvery white with green edges and have a quilted appearance. Clusters of white flowers appear from spring through summer.

How do you take care of a purple dragon?

Lamium maculatum ‘Purple Dragon’ PP #15,890 Brightens shady areas, and tolerates dry shade conditions when established. Beautiful trailing from mixed containers or used to edge borders. An herbaceous perennial. Water regularly to maintain evenly moist soil – weekly, or more often.

How do you grow purple dragon?

1. Sun Exposure. Partial Shade or. Full Shade.
2. Soil Type. Normal or. Sandy or. Clay.
3. Soil pH. Neutral or. Alkaline or. Acid.
4. Soil Moisture. Average or. Dry or. Moist.

Is purple dead nettle deer resistant?

Common Pests/Diseases. Spotted dead nettles have few problems in the north; among other good features is the fact that they are deer-resistant plants.

Is purple dead nettle the same as henbit?

Henbit flowers are pink to purple with darker purple spots than those of purple deadnettle. The flowers of henbit are longer and more slender than those of purple deadnettle. The leaves of purple deadnettle at the apex of the stems are tinted purple and fade to green as they mature.