Purple Dead Nettle

Scientific Name: Lameum Purpureum

Identification: Square stem, like all from the mint family. Fuzzy leaves, and purple tops with little pink flowers.

Benefits: An astringent, diuretic, and also has anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial properties.

Purple dead nettle, are one of my favorite backyard edibles. I just love everything about them, the way they look, how easy they are to harvest, and dry, and of course the added medicinal benefit of the plant. It’s edible in its entirety, the flower tops are good in salads, or to dry for tea or further use. Dead nettle are great for poultices or used directly on a wound if the situation calls for it.

I personally like to experiment with a number of things, like trying dead nettle in my kombucha or making a backyard jelly, but you can certainly do whatever you prefer. You can preserve using whichever method you favor, and experiment and try new things yourself! Once you’ve started harvesting what you find in your yard or the surrounding community like parks, and conservatories, and zoos there will be no turning back lol. Then you’ll notice the things you can now identify in abundance everywhere you go!