As I wander along the local lanes, my gaze is now constantly distracted by emerging flowers amongst the green. We’ve had snowdrops, and now crocus, daffodil, primrose… all bidding a welcome to the promise of spring days.
But there is one unsung hero I want to sing about here. She can hang around all winter nearly, modestly whispering her purple petals to your passing feet. Once you know her you will see her everywhere and she is worth a closer look with her delicate orchid like features and downy leaves.
Lamium purpureum, to give her her Latin title, is easily overlooked, one of our widespread flowers made invisible by familiarity and possibly frequently maligned due to her similarity to our stinging nettle. She will not sting (hence the term ‘dead’) and she was possibly a useful source of vitamins to our ancestors as she is edible. (Cook with butter and a dash of lemon juice apparently.)
The red dead nettle is a sociable sort. Abundant in a verge near you, and often seen with a gaggle of friends such as shepherds purse (which is what I think she is with here, see below). Take the time when you are next trudging a path to look out for her purple whorls on the margins, and tenderly examine her characterful, cheerful flowers. You’ll wonder how you didn’t appreciate her more before.
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