In contrast to its cousins, the nettles, the dead nettle has quite large labial flowers. Depending on the variety, they bloom in different colors. But almost all of them exude a very sweet honey scent. It makes the deadnettle unmistakable.
What are the properties of deadnettle flowers?
Deadnettle flowers are large lipped flowers that appear in white, pink, yellow or purple and exude a sweet honey scent. They are edible, non-toxic and can be used in salads, as decoration or in teas and tinctures.
Deadnettle flowers – shape and colors
The deadnettle is a mint family and its flowers look like small tubes with lips on them. They each appear between two false whorls, which consist of short bracts.
5 to 15 flowers grow on each whorl. The colors depend on the respective variety and are:
- White
- Pink
- Yellow
- Violet
The deadnettle varieties with white flowers are most common in the wild. Golden yellow dead nettles, on the other hand, are often kept as ornamental plants in the garden.
The blooming time of the deadnettle
Some species of deadnettle only bloom in spring and then again in autumn. Other varieties such as the purple-flowering deadnettle have flowers almost all year round, as long as it is not too cold outside.
Deadnettle flowers are edible
The deadnettle flowers, like the rest of the plant, are not poisonous. They can even be used in the kitchen or fed as food to pets such as rabbits and turtles.
In the kitchen, the flowers come into their own in wild salads. The colored dead nettle flowers are particularly popular for decorating fish platters, salads or desserts.
The flowers can also be used to make teas and tinctures, which are recommended by natural medicine because of their expectorant and anti-inflammatory ingredients.
Tips & Tricks
The flowers of the white deadnettle, which grow mainly in meadows and on the edges of forests, are particularly aromatic and sweet. They can be sucked out or simply enjoyed fresh.
