Take time to look at this flower - a whole new world hiding in the hedgerows!! White Dead-nettle is a common plant of roadside verges, waste grounds and grassy banks - anywhere the ground has been disturbed. White dead-nettle is a hairy perennial with triangular, deeply toothed leaves, similar to a stinging nettle but without the sting. It belongs to a different plant family, the mint family (Lamiaceae). Its white flowers appear from March right the way through to December. Dense whorls of beautiful “orchid-hooded” flowers appear up the stem, under the leaves. Take a look under the “hood”. It is said that centipedes put their black shoes there for safety from mischievous fairies who love to hide them. The plant is edible and an important source of nectar for long tongued bees and moths
Medicinal and food uses
