Springtime in the UK is a delightful season to enjoy, especially when nature awakens and offers a vast range of wild food to eat. One of the earliest wild plants that grow during this season is purple dead nettle, also known as Lamium purpureum. Despite its humble appearance, this plant has numerous uses in folk remedies and can be consumed as food.

This plant is known by several names, including dead nettle, red dead nettle, and purple archangel. Despite its confusing nature, purple dead nettle has managed to earn its name, “dead nettle,” due to its leaves resembling those of stinging nettle. However, it is considered “dead” because it lacks stinging trichomes on its leaves. Interestingly, purple dead nettle is not a true nettle belonging to the Urticaceae family, but rather a member of the mint family.

How to Identify and Harvest Purple Dead Nettle

Purple dead nettle is easily identifiable by its heart or spade-shaped leaves with a square stem, which takes on a purple hue towards the top. It can be found almost everywhere, from ditches alongside roads to fields and gardens. This plant is incredibly important to native pollinators and honeybees, making it an excellent choice for maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

It’s worth noting that purple dead nettle is not native to the UK, and its natural habitat is Eurasia, but it has become naturalized over the years. If you’re new to foraging, this is a perfect plant to start with because it doesn’t have any poisonous look-alikes. It’s also easy to identify, and you’ll be surprised to see how common it is once you learn to spot it.

To harvest dead nettle, look for plants growing in clean, pesticide-free areas. Using clean, sharp scissors or garden shears, cut the top 1/3 of the plant just above a node or pair of leaves. Leave enough of the plant intact so that it can continue to grow and produce flowers for pollinators. Dead nettle can be harvested multiple times throughout the growing season, making it a great option for those who enjoy wildcrafting.

Purple Dead Nettle as a Pollinator

Purple Dead Nettle is a more significant food source for bees compared to dandelions. In early spring, even before spotting the first morel of the season, I relish a fresh cup of purple dead nettle tea, one of the first wild edibles to appear. If you live in a region with mild winters, you might witness this plant’s growth even in winter.

As one of the earliest plants to bloom, it serves as a crucial food source for native pollinators and honeybees, and you’ll often notice it buzzing with bees. Fortunately, this plant grows abundantly, and it tends to sprout up everywhere. One of the simplest ways to assist pollinators in the spring is to refrain from mowing your lawn for a while.

Health Benefits of Purple Dead Nettle

Purple dead nettle is an effective natural antihistamine for seasonal allergies. If you’re struggling with seasonal allergies, purple dead nettle can be a great natural remedy to alleviate your symptoms. It contains antihistamine properties that can help reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms such as itchy eyes and runny nose.

When pollen counts are high, drinking a daily cup of purple dead nettle tea can provide relief. This is especially true if you live in an area where the plant is abundant.

Before you go foraging for purple dead nettle or try any new herbal remedies, be sure to consult your physician, especially if you’re pregnant, nursing, or immunocompromised. Also, be a responsible forager by asking permission before picking on someone’s property and taking only what you need. Remember that wildlife relies on this plant for food, so be mindful of them.

Use in Herbal Remedies

Purple dead nettle is a versatile plant that can be used in various herbal remedies. One of the easiest and more potent ways to enjoy its medicinal benefits is by making a tincture. To create a purple dead nettle tincture, finely mince ¼ cup of the plant and combine it with ½ cup of 40% ABV vodka in a clean mason jar. Cover the jar with parchment paper before screwing on the lid to protect the metal from the alcohol. Store the jar in a cool, dark place for a month before straining the tincture into a clean amber bottle or jar.

Another way to use purple dead nettle is by infusing it into a carrier oil, such as apricot kernel, grapeseed oil, or sweet almond oil. Fill a sterilised pint jar halfway with minced purple dead nettle and top it up with the carrier oil, filling the jar almost completely. Shake the jar and store it in a dark place, giving it a good shake now and then. After 6-8 weeks, strain the oil into another sterilised jar, cover it, label it, and store it somewhere dark and cool.

This infused oil can be used to make balms, lotions, creams, and even as the base for an after-bite salve for bug bites when combined with plantain tincture. Purple dead nettle is anti-inflammatory and astringent, making it a good basic healing salve.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, if you’re looking for a new plant to forage, you should give purple dead nettle a try. Not only is it easy to identify, but it’s also readily available and can be consumed as food or used in folk remedies. Plus, by allowing it to grow in your garden, you’ll be doing your part to support native pollinators and honeybees.

Read 6 Immune Boosting Mushrooms if you’re interested in the health benefits of wild food.

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