Purple and edible — what more can a Wild Girl want?
Have you noticed those purple, fuzzy looking weeds with square stems that are popping up lately in the sidewalk strips and lawns around Portland? That is Lamium purpureum, a mint family plant known as purple dead nettle. You may wonder: Why eat it? Because it is said to be high in a number of nutrients including antioxidants, those cancer-busting compounds we can all use more of! I have been into putting it in my smoothies ever since I read this piece by a Tennessee homesteader. I blend it because the fuzzy texture and bland, grassy flavor does not make for awesome eating as a whole plant. (That said, with a little creativity, anything is possible.)
You may also wonder: Why is a living plant called dead? Good question! It’s called “dead” nettle because it won’t sting you, as opposed to stinging nettle, Urtica, which infamously will. The two plants are not closely related but they do look sort of similar, whatwith the square stems and opposite leaves and so on. Urtica is that formic-acid wielding superfood that zaps you with little stingers when you get too close. Within two weeks, it’s going to be Urtica harvest time, and I’m going to attempt to make some delicious raw stinging nettle pesto. But I digress — let’s return now to purple dead nettle, whose annual 15 minutes of fame is upon us. Hurry with this one — it does not stick around and will be gone before late spring!
You can harvest dead nettle with abandon because it is an invasive weed from Europe that spreads like mad, much to the chagrin of landscapers and gardeners. Some botanists will dispute whether a given plant that appears to be purple dead nettle might actually be henbit, Lamium amplexicaule, but in terms of edibility there is no meaningful distinction, so munch away and call it whatever you like.
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I have been wondering what this plant was growing in large patches in my back yard. Guess I will try some in my smoothies. Hope it is not poisonous.
I tried a couple stalks with flowers in my smoothie. Never again! It may be fine for most but gave me serious cramping, diarrhea and lethargy later.
David,
Are you 100% certain it was the same plant? Sorry for your awful reaction. If you can post or email a photo, I’d be interested to take a look, because I have never heard of a bad reaction to that one before. Anything’s possible…
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Thank you!! I have been wondering what this weed was as it grows everywhere here!
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Thank you! I just noticed this growing everywhere . It grows real tall through the summer correct? But this is the best time to eat it?
Purple deadnettle is the plant above with almost the heart looking shaped leaves. Henbit is of the same family of deadnettle with same purple flowers but the greens are circular around the stem. Both are edible and medicinal.
A number of websites and the local paper contend that both dead nettle and henbit are toxic. I have both in my yard and wonder if anyone has used them to dye fabric with.
Love the words—cancer-busting—
I’ve got a Ton of this stuff in my yard—-
looking for more ”Edible ways to make this plant-super valuable”
I’m thinking it is probably a micro-nutrient medicinal Treasure that if we knew what to do with it would be so 2012 Superfood
I’m thinking dried and put in caps that would last all year and could be taken in small amounts-one cap/day and anti cancer ””””’preventive”””’
Hi Becky,
I love wild foods, but deadnettle isn’t one I pick. I think it got its name as much from the very unpleasant musty smell as from its resemblance to stinging nettles, but with drooping, wilted-looking leaves. Between the bad smell and lack of flavor, I stick to the very great number of really delicious wild foods. But I’m glad you’ve found a use for it.
Thanx! C:
Hello Rebecca,
Excellent blog me dear, we used to add stinging nettle to the stew we made for the greyhounds we raced many years ago. At the time we also used it for nettle tea, i’d forgotten till now all about it.
Regards,
John
I ate a few tops of purple dead nettle last Spring and got a mild stomach ache. People respond differently to plants and, as always, it’s best to try a small amount of any plant you’re unfamiliar with before you gorge yourself on it.
Maybe I’ll try it again.
Oh, and the stinging nettles are starting to pop up around here already.
Roger that. No good to gorge on new foods of any kind, usually.
Hey, have you heard anything about other Lamiums? There is more of the ornamental spotted dead nettle around here I think.
Jason,
In additon to Lamium amplexicaule, henbit, I’ve also heard of a white dead nettle that’s eaten in the UK. But your comment is the first time I’m hearing about an ornamental dead nettle. A link to a photo and Latin name would be of interest!
Edited to add: Is this it? http://www.qscaping.com/NetPS-Engine.asp?CCID=11090001&page=pdp&PID=2675
Hey Rebecca, Thanks for replying and sorry I kind of forgot about this thread. Yeah that is the right species, there are several varieties I’ve seen in gardens, it seems like they all maybe have pink flowers. It spreads really fast and I have a bit of it really close. I’d imagine it would have similar use but I really don’t know.
thank you so much for sharing this. just the picture and the words encourage and empowers. thank you
Glad to hear that Niko. Thanks for your support!