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White Dead-nettle

©Neil Wyatt

White dead-nettle

Scientific name: Lamium album
White dead-nettle does not sting. It displays dense clusters of white flowers in whorls around its stem, and can be found on disturbed ground, such as roadside verges.

Species information

Statistics

Height: up to 80cm

Conservation status

Common.

When to see

March to December

About

White dead-nettle is a common plant of roadside verges, waste grounds and grassy banks - anywhere the ground has been disturbed. Like yellow archangel, and other members of the dead-nettle family, it doesn't have stinging leaves. Its white flowers appear from March right the way through to December.

How to identify

Looking similar to a stinging nettle, white dead-nettle is a hairy perennial with heart-shaped, deeply toothed leaves. Dense whorls of white, 'hooded' flowers appear up the stem, among the leaves.

Distribution

Widespread.

Habitats

Did you know?

Lots of different species of long-tongued insects visit the flowers of white dead-nettle, including the red mason bee, white-tailed bumblebee and burnished brass moth. The caterpillars of the garden tiger and angle shades moths feed on the leaves, as do Green tortoise beetles.