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Purple dead nettle.

Purple Dead Nettle – Foraging, Medicinal, and Cooking Guide

DIY Recipes & Tutorials, Main Dish, Natural Medicine Cabinet, Recipes

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Purple dead nettle is easily foraged, when springtime rolls around, you are sure to find dead nettle all over the place. Not only is it easy to find, but it's a great addition to your natural medicine cabinet as well as culinary, making it a top pick on the homesteading bucket list.

Purple dead nettle growing in a patch.

Let's be honest, it doesn't get much better than a plant you can go pick that works for both food and your natural medicine cabinet that you also don't have to plant or tend to, hello!

Most people don’t even realize this plant is edible and medicinal. It was commonly thought of as a terrible weed that needed to be eradicated at all costs.

When you learn how to recognize it, you’ll discover an entire pantry waiting for you in your backyard, or along roadsides, and in parks.

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and this is for informational purposes only, this is not diagnosis or treatment and always check with your medical professional of choice before using anything medicinally.

Purple dead nettle growing up through the snow.

Where & When to Forage for Purple Dead Nettle

Purple dead nettle, Lamium purpureum, is a small plant with reddish-purple leaves. The leaves appear in an oval, jagged shape and grow off of long, squarish stems (similar to mint, as it's in the mint family).

Purple dead nettle (or dead purple nettle) blooms in the spring and can sometimes be found growing up through the melting spring snow. The plant will grow throughout the spring and summer months.

Look for purple dead nettle along previously tilled ground with well-draining soil. It can often appear as a ground cover, too. It loves moist soil and sunny spots.

They're often short squatty plants but can grow to be 3-8 inches in length and 2-5 inches in width.

Because they're in the mint family, they can spread like wildfire, even in your garden. You may not mind it being in your garden as harvesting is much easier, but it can be invasive. If you want to grow purple dead nettle, I recommend growing in a container.

Wild edible plants that can be found in spring.

There are many wild edibles that can be foraged throughout the spring and summer months. Many of which have phenomenal medicinal uses.

If you're interested in learning more about medicinal herbs and how to use them safely and effectively in your own home, you should check out my course, “Practical Home Herbalism”.

Through this course, you'll gain the confidence of knowing exactly what remedy to make and having a cabinet stocked full of natural medicine for your family to use at a moment’s notice.

How to Harvest Purple Dead Nettle

Collecting dead nettle is fairly simple. Snip the stems about ½” from the ground, and gently shake to remove any dirt or bugs.

You can use any collection container you wish, as there is no need to worry about spreading spores as you would foraging mushrooms. Like all mint, they reproduce from their roots.

They can be rinsed with cool water just before using or drying. You don’t want to soak them too long in the water, as they will turn to mush and not have a good flavor when you use them later.

Purple dead nettle.
Henbit plant up close.

Purple Dead Nettle Look Alike

The only lookalike that this plant has is henbit. The difference is henbit has mostly green leaves, with purple flowers. Nettle leaves are almost all purple, with a slightly green edge.

Both are completely edible, so you don’t have to worry if you mix the two up.

Not to be confused with stinging nettle, purple nettle doesn’t not have any parts of the plant that will sting. Purple nettle is counted among the true nettles, even without the stinging properties.

For more info on foraging and using stinging nettle, including how to make nettle tea click here.

dried herbs in Mason jar on counter

Medicinal Uses

As a medicinal, the leaves can be used both dried and fresh in herbal teas. They are a natural diuretic and have astringent, and styptic properties. The herbal infusion can be used for helping to stop minor cuts as well as assist the body in healing bruises.

How to Dry Nettle Leaves:

  1. Snip off the plant ½” from the ground.
  2. Remove the leaves by either hand plucking them, or running a sharp knife down the stem.
  3. Lay the leaves as flat as possible on a dehydrator sheet and dehydrate for 6-8 hours on low.
  4. You can also dry them on an ungreased baking sheet in a low oven, 175 degrees F (or less) for 8-10 hours.
Purple dead nettle flowers and leaves on toast.

Recipes

As a wild edible, purple dead nettles are naturally full of vitamins A and C, as well as being a good source of iron. The flavor is rich and earthy and is easily used in any recipe as you would use spinach.

Try them in:

  • Smoothies
  • Soups
  • Stir frys
  • Casseroles
  • Salads (they pair well with dandelion greens too)
Tea made with purple dead nettle.

Tea

  1. Add 3 Tablespoons dried leaves for every 8 ounces (1 cup) of not quite boiling water.
  2. Allow to steep for 5-8 minutes, then strain and sweeten to taste.
  3. Blend with other herbs such as burdock, dandelion root, and milk thistle to make a tea that will naturally support your liver and kidney functions.

Salve

  1. In an oven safe bowl, add ½ cup dried nettle leaves to 1 cup of coconut oil (measured in liquid state) or olive oil.
  2. Place in 200 degree F oven for 2 hours to infuse. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
  3. Strain the plant matter, and save the oil. Add 3 Tablespoons beeswax and return to oven to allow oil and wax to melt together.
  4. Pour infused oil into a pint jar and cover tightly. You may add up to 30 drops total essential oils of choice. Try helichrysum, lavender or tea tree oil or a blend of all 3.

To Use: Rub a quarter-sized amount all over bruises and minor cuts and scrapes to aid in healing.

FAQs

What is purple dead nettle good for?

As discussed above, it's high in vitamins and minerals, delicious in recipes and works wonderfully in a homemade salve.

In survival situations it could sustain you as a wild edible and is delicious in tea.

Is purple dead nettle invasive?

Yes, purple dead nettle is extremely invasive as it spreads through a root system and can easily take over a garden bed. To keep it from spreading into unwanted areas, it's best to plant in containers.

What does purple dead nettle tea taste like?

Because it's in the mint family, the leaves have a slightly minty taste, but compared to peppermint it tastes more grassy than minty.

Is purple dead nettle the same as creeping Charlie?

No, dead nettle is a winter annual that blooms in early spring and dies back in late spring. Creeping Charlie is a perennial that blooms in late spring and will stick around into the summer months.

Get creative with this wild herb and see how many ways you can incorporate it into your diet!

This dead nettle rice bake is a great way to get to know the flavor of this wild food! You can also use fresh stinging nettles or spinach in this dish too.

Foraging for wild food can be fun and rewarding, especially purple dead nettle. What plants do you have in your backyard?

Other Posts You May Enjoy

  • Planning My Medicinal Herb Garden
  • How to Prune Herbs and Perennials for Maximum Growth
  • Medicinal Kitchen Herbs You Should Grow
  • Best Method for Drying Herbs for Stronger Medicinal Properties
  • Growing an Herbal Tea Garden
  • How to Use Herbs and Natural Remedies at Home

Purple Dead Nettle Rice Bake

Heather Harris
This purple dead nettle rice bake is easy to assemble and you can sub in any nettle or green (such as spinach) that you have on hand, making it a versatile supper recipe.
4.50 from 14 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 189 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 cup washed and dried nettle leaves
  • 1 cup cooked rice measured after cooked and cooled
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 Tablespoon soy sauce or coconut aminos

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oil in a heavy bottomed skillet on medium.
  • Add onions, garlic, and nettle leaves, and sauté together for 2 minutes.
  • Add to mixing bowl with remaining ingredients.
  • Mix well.
  • Pour into an 8×8 greased baking dish.
  • Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Be sure you're using cooked then cooled rice for this recipe (which makes it a great option for using leftover rice!).
  • If you don't have dead purple nettle, stinging nettle, dandelion, or even spinach will work great in this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 189kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 8gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 920mgPotassium: 260mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 680IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 253mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Dead Nettle Rice Bake, Purple Dead Nettle Recipe, Rice Bake
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Comments:

  1. Mae

    4 years ago

    Do I have to dry the leaves before making a tea? Can the flowers be used for tea as well, or just the leaves?

    I’ve heard that nettle tea helps with seasonal allergies. Will the purple dead nettle work in that way?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • heather

      4 years ago

      Hi Mae!
      No, you really don’t have to dry the leaves before making a tea. You can add them in fresh to boiling water.
      Drying the leaves will help you to have tea AFTER the season is over, however 🙂
      You can use the leaves and the flowers both in your tea and in cooking.

      As far as allergies, they MAY be able to help you. However, it would be difficult for me to say without a doubt that they will work for all allergies. My best advice is to give it a try and see what works for you.
      If you are taking any allergy medication (OTC or Doc prescribed) you will want to make sure that this herb or any herb will not interact with them first.

      Reply
    • Cheryl L. March

      2 years ago

      No you don’t need to dry the leaves if you have it fresh. As a suggestion I use boiling water and cover the top of my cup with a plate to trap the steam inside for 6 – 8 minutes to get the most out of any herb. You can put a dribble of honey instead of sugar and some coconut oils (for ketogenic diet) also taste awesome as a sugar replacement.

      Reply
      • Cheryelle

        3 days ago

        How much if the fresh (not dried) leaves do you use per 8 oz water for the tea?

        Reply
  2. Deaonna Crowe

    March 18, 2020 at 11:08 am

    Love your sight. Great recipe thank you

    Reply
    • Janelle

      April 1, 2022 at 7:55 am

      Hello😊
      Just wondering if I have to dry the nettle before making a tincture for allergies, and yes I already have it hang drying because I’m also going to use it for tea. But is hanging it ok and for how long does it need to hang dry? 🤷🏻‍♀️

      Reply
  3. Jillian Bohrer

    3 years ago

    I just tossed them whole into the dehydrator….stems and all, oops! are stems good/bad for anything? or should I remove the leaves once they are dry? They are a little wilted now so removing leaves now would prove difficult, i think…

    Reply
    • Melissa Norris

      3 years ago

      Just wait until they’re dry and then remove the leaves, it’s easier that way 🙂

      Reply
  4. Jennifer Scott

    2 years ago

    For the rice bake, do you just use the greens or the flowers too?

    Reply
    • Melissa Norris

      2 years ago

      Just the leaves

      Reply
    • Tricia

      12 months ago

      I made the rice bake recipe using both the leaves and flowers today and it was delicious.

      Reply
  5. Wild Aimée

    2 years ago

    5 stars
    This was a really well put together blog post, thanks for all the information!

    Reply
  6. Cheryl

    2 years ago

    4 stars
    You can use all parts of this plant. I’ve been doing it for years and it all depths on what you prefer. I have heard it works for Allergies several times but like was stated earlier for which I don’t know and I wouldn’t mix any herb while taking medication without asking a doctor first.

    Reply
  7. Teresa

    12 months ago

    Have these growing all over my yard and I can’t wait to pick, dry and use them. Thank you for this post.

    Reply
  8. Brit Phillips

    12 months ago

    5 stars
    I added more cheese to the top, but this is absolutely delicious.

    Reply
  9. Brit Phillips

    12 months ago

    5 stars
    I added more cheese to the top, but this is absolutely delicious.

    Reply
    • Deb

      March 7, 2023 at 9:52 am

      Thanks

      Reply
  10. Jenny

    April 14, 2022 at 5:23 am

    Do you need to dry the plant before making a tincture with alcohol? I see this frequently.

    Reply
  11. Kim

    11 months ago

    5 stars
    Hi! Can I dry the leaves for an extended time in a mason jar or mylar bag with an oxygen absorber? This is a great article!

    Reply
  12. Peg

    June 24, 2022 at 11:08 am

    Can the leaves just be used for sun tea or do they need to be in boiled water first to release the medicinal properties? Thanks – have lots of dead nettle but never used it. I have stinging nettle as my usual go to.

    Reply
    • Cheryelle

      March 24, 2023 at 10:51 am

      This a good question. I don’t know much about since I’m still learning but if they can that sun would made the sweetest tea.

      Reply

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