Weed of the week: Dead Nettle - Lamium purpureum

'Ecologically valuable'

Seeing that in an academic journal is enough for me to view this plant in a new way.

NOT a weed.

It turns out that the Lamium flowers are precious for bees at this time of year.

I find it ever so super simple to pull out when space is eventually needed for tomatoes, basil & dahlias, so I may just leave the dead nettle in place.

Why is it called 'DEAD' Nettle?

Because it looks a little like nettle, but doesn't sting.

Some interesting reading:

Antimicrobial, Anti-quorum sensing and Antibiofilm Potentials of Lamium galeobdolon (L.) L. and Lamium purpureum L. Ethanolic Extracts

Journal of Apitherapy and Nature (2024, Volume 7 Issue 1)

Authors: Ayşegül Akkoyunlu , Gorkem Dulger

There were two links given:

https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/jan/issue/85600/1457624

https://doi.org/10.35206/jan.1457624

"This genus, which is frequently visited by entomophile pollination representative bumble bee queens and honey bees, is a host for many insect species, making them ecologically valuable."

"Various species belonging to the Lamium genus, comprising nearly 30 species in Turkey, are utilized in public health for treating hypertension, astringency, trauma,
paralysis, fractures, constipation, and gynecological diseases. Additionally, they are recognized for their antispasmodic, antiproliferative, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties."

"Biocontrol research on the use of plant extracts or pure compounds obtained from plants is gaining momentum today. The plants we used in our study are species with significant antibacterial, antifungal, anti-QS, and antibiofilm effects."

Wikipedia is another great spot for random facts and a decent bibliography:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamium_purpureum

Management Strategies

Here at the soil farm, I was just about to go round the garden 'tidying' this one plant away to make space for new plantings, but when I read about its role in providing food for the bees in early spring, I paused.

Likewise, at the Pollinator Garden at Tuakau Museum, there's a Dahlia flower bed absolutely covered in the dead nettle, it looks almost like a purple carpet.

My strategy for the Museum is to make a sign, and perhaps take out all the 'other' groundcovers like clover, onion weed, dock and lily of the valley vine, so that the dead nettle looks more intentional. Then, when it's warm enough to plant the Dahila tubers, we'll compost all the dead nettle.

At home, I'm only clearing those patches where I have something else ready to plant, or gathering up the dead nettle if I need more greens for a hot compost pile.

Here's one of the newer garden beds prepared for tomato seedlings in a few weeks.

Weeds, weeds, wondrous weeds

For those struggling with what feels like a garden that's ALL weeds, or for people who are interested in learning different ways to turn invasive plants into a valuable resource, here's my online course on holistic weed management:

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