Practical
Plants

Lamium album

White Dead Nettle

a perennial member of the Lamium genus in the family Labiatae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Labiatae
Genus
Lamium
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaves - raw or cooked[9][19][22][2][20]. They can be added to salads or mixed with other leaves and cooked as a potherb[7]. They can also be dried for later use[1]. The leaves are a good source of vitamin A[15]. A pleasant herb tea is made from the flowers[13].

Plant part
Leaves
Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[16]. The flowering tops are antispasmodic, astringent, cholagogue, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, haemostatic, hypnotic, pectoral, resolvent, sedative, styptic, tonic, vasoconstrictor and vulnerary[17][22][23][2][11][18][21][4][13][15]. An infusion is used in the treatment of kidney and bladder complaints[23], diarrhoea, menstrual problems, bleeding after childbirth, vaginal discharges and prostatitis[13][16]. Externally, the plant is made into compresses and applied to piles, varicose veins and vaginal discharges[22][13][16]. A distilled water from the flowers and leaves makes an excellent and effective eye lotion to relieve ophthalmic conditions[22]. The plant is harvested in the summer and can be dried for later use[23]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[23]. It is used in the treatment of bladder and kidney disorders and amenorrhoea[23].

Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Cancer
Product or use
Cholagogue
Product or use
Depurative
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Homeopathy
Product or use
Hypnotic
Product or use
Ophthalmic
Product or use
Pectoral
Product or use
Resolvent
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Styptic
Product or use
Tonic
Product or use
Vasoconstrictor
Product or use
Vulnerary

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant has a creeping rootstock and makes a good groundcover plant for woodland edges[14].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to Spain, the Himalayas and Japan.
Habitat
Fields, hedgerows, woodland edges and clearings and moist waste ground[22][23][5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A very easily grown plant, it tolerates most soils and conditions[10]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a sunny position, though it also does well in partial shade[13]. Plants are hardy to about -25°c[8]. 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[10]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[12]. A good bee plant[17][14] and a good companion plant, helping any vegetables growing nearby[3][6].

References

  1. Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2

    ↩

  2. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩1↩2

  3. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

    ↩

  4. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩

  5. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  6. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

    ↩

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  8. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩

  9. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  11. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

  12. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  13. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  14. Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.

    ↩1↩2

  15. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  16. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3

  17. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

  18. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  19. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

    ↩

  20. Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-584-10141-4

    ↩

  21. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  22. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  23. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

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