this plant has been showing up in my yard and the hummingbirds just love it

http://firstways.com/2011/02/17/purple-dead-nettle-a-weed-good-to-eat/

http://www.permies.com/bb/index.php?action=post;board=2.0

It isn't unattractive, it is growing around my birdbath in abandon and the hummers have been really enjoying it as it is one of the few flowers open..they say it is edible..I'll try but I don't really think it has much flavor.

I've never seen the purple one but I've got two varieties of pinks and one yellow.





I've tried eating it a few times but I'd really need to be hungry before I sat down to a salad of deadnettle - I'll just leave it to flower. 

i've found out a few more things about it..some people consider it a horrible noxious weed that takes over acres of farmland and other consider it a wonderful edible very nutritious plant.

right now I'm not in either camp..i just identified it in my yard..where it is growing is an area where nothing else would grow so I'm cool with it there, the hummers, birds and butterflies evidently will be happy with it and I'll give it a try cooking it to see if I like it.

I have seen a few pieces in other areas..that will likely get pulled as I don't want it to spread to good garden areas..

I planted it about six years ago here and it hasn't spread too much at all but I guess that depends on your climate.

As with all plants, check out local conditions before introducing anything.  I've recommended Wisteria and evergreen honeysuckle for covering roofs - much to the horror of American permies for whom those plants are invasive weeds ! 

Irene x

We've got it growing like crazy here in middle Tennessee.  We harvest it often-- it has terrific health benefits and there are some pretty good recipes to be found. 

Our favorite is Bacon and Dead nettle strata (we make it with ham).  Here is a link to that recipe:  http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe.php?rid=misc-bacon-deandettle-strata 
There are other recipes at that site as well but that is our favorite.

HTH

P.S. Be careful eating it raw.  It can have a DRANO like effect on the G.I. system!

Attractive looking foliage.  It looks nice in that setting.  Anything the hummingbirds like is fine with me.

It makes a good living mulch under bushes, especially blueberries.  I rarely eat it by itself, but it gets tossed into almost every mess of mixed greens I make.  It can take over fields, but like many invasives I've never seen it take over a _good_ field.

Just harvested some purple dead nettles this past weekend!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61991939@N06/5697030949/in/photostream

Drying them now for medicinal teas when needed - and yes - toss them fresh into salads. I wish I could find some stinging nettles around here, but no luck at all so far

thanks so much for keeping this thread going, that is very helpful, I'm finding it in several areas of my property now, but it is working well under my birdbath, not so welcome in some other areas..will try it cooked