We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Lamium album - L.

Common Name White Dead Nettle
Family Lamiaceae or Labiatae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Fields, hedgerows, woodland edges and clearings and moist waste ground[7, 9, 17].
Range Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to Spain, the Himalayas and Japan.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Lamium album White Dead Nettle


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lamium_album_Sturm39.jpg
Lamium album White Dead Nettle
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:LC-de

 

Translate this page:

Summary

Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late summer, Late spring, Mid summer. Form: Spreading or horizontal, Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Lamium album is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from May to December, and the seeds ripen from July to December. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Ground Cover; Meadow; Hedgerow;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses: Tea

Young leaves - raw or cooked[2, 5, 7, 13, 54]. They can be added to salads or mixed with other leaves and cooked as a potherb[183]. They can also be dried for later use[12]. The leaves are a good source of vitamin A[240]. A pleasant herb tea is made from the flowers[238].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antiflatulent  Antispasmodic  Astringent  Cancer  Cholagogue  Depurative  Diuretic  Expectorant  
Homeopathy  Hypnotic  Ophthalmic  Pectoral  Resolvent  Sedative  Styptic  
Tonic  Vasoconstrictor  Vulnerary

White dead nettle is an astringent and demulcent herb that is chiefly used as a uterine tonic, to arrest inter-menstrual bleeding and to reduce excessive menstrual flow. It is a traditional treatment for abnormal vaginal discharge and is sometimes taken to relieve painful periods[254]. The flowering tops are antispasmodic, astringent, cholagogue, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, haemostatic, hypnotic, pectoral, resolvent, sedative, styptic, tonic, vasoconstrictor and vulnerary[4, 7, 9, 13, 21, 46, 61, 165, 238, 240]. An infusion is used in the treatment of kidney and bladder complaints[9], diarrhoea, menstrual problems, bleeding after childbirth, vaginal discharges and prostatitis[238, 254]. Externally, the plant is made into compresses and applied to piles, varicose veins and vaginal discharges[7, 238, 254]. A distilled water from the flowers and leaves makes an excellent and effective eye lotion to relieve ophthalmic conditions[7]. The plant is harvested in the summer and can be dried for later use[9]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[9]. It is used in the treatment of bladder and kidney disorders and amenorrhoea[9].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

The plant has a creeping rootstock and makes a good groundcover plant for woodland edges[24].

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Food Forest  Ground cover

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Ground cover. A very easily grown plant, it tolerates most soils and conditions[200]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a sunny position, though it also does well in partial shade[238]. Plants are hardy to about -25°c[187]. The white dead nettle is too weedy to be grown in the flower garden, but it does well in the wild garden and self-sows when well sited[200]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233]. A good bee plant[4, 24] and a good companion plant, helping any vegetables growing nearby[14, 18]. Special Features: Attractive foliage, Invasive, Suitable for cut flowers. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water. The root pattern is rhizomatous with underground stems sending roots and shoots along their length [2-1].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - this species usually self sows freely and should not require human intervention. When required it can be sown in situ as soon as it is ripe. Division in spring. Division succeeds at almost any time in the growing season[K]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia), Russian Federation-Eastern Siberia (Eastern Siberia), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, Russian Federation-Far East (Far East), China (Anhui Sheng, Gansu Sheng, Guizhou Sheng, Hebei Sheng, Heilongjiang Sheng, Henan Sheng, Hubei Sheng, Hunan Sheng, Jiangsu Sheng, Jilin Sheng, Liaoning Sheng, Nei Mongol Zizhiqu, Shaanxi Sheng, Shandong Sheng, Shanxi Sheng, Sichuan Sheng, Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu (north), Zhejiang Sheng), Korea, Japan (Hokkaidô, Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku) TROPICAL ASIA: India (north), Nepal, Pakistan (north) EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Russian Federation (European part), Ukraine, Former Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Romania, Spain, France

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Lamium amplexicauleHenbit, Henbit deadnettleAnnual0.3 0-0  LMNDM210
Lamium galeobdolonYellow ArchangelPerennial0.3 3-9 FLMHFSNM213
Lamium purpureumRed Dead Nettle, Purple deadnettleAnnual0.3 4-8  LMHSNM210

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Lamium album  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.