how to propagate dead nettle

how to propagate dead nettle2020/09/28

Spotted dead nettles propagate easily by themselves from runners, by dividing, or from cuttings. Beautiful trailing from mixed containers or used to edge borders. The stinging nettle, or common nettle (Urtica dioica) is Europe's most common nettle. However, the pretty variegated foliage will easily spread out two or three times the plants height. David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. You can easily go foraging for them in your garden beds or cold frames, or find them tucked along protected sections of your house's foundation. In fact, natural rainfall can give it all of the water it needs. Dividing: Carefully dig up the entire plant. As a former senior sales director with Mary Kay and the co-owner of a renovation company, Monica Patrick has firsthand knowledge of small business operations. Thus you need to be careful in choosing the right spot to grow this plant. It is low growing and blooms occur throughout the year including warmer weather in winter. Make sure you go deep enough that you get as much root as possible. Purple dead nettle with triangular leaves and purple leaf coloration is often confused with . First, let's look more closely at the leaves. Commonly called dead nettles because their leaves resemble stinging nettles with no ability to sting, this near-evergreen plant (in mild climates) is a low creeper; some cultivars become randomly mounded. This weed can be controlled with various postemergence herbicides; however, dead nettle plants often die back in mid-late spring before broadleaf herbicide applications are made. So every 4 leaves form a compass rose. Despite its name, purple dead nettle is a fairly easy plant to grow and care for. University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and University of Tennessee Extension. When you grow dead nettle in a shaded space, it wont need a huge amount of water. The name "dead nettle" refers to the fact that lamium does not have the stinging hairs characteristic of other nettles. This plant is usually pretty low maintenance, but snails and slugs can bother it as they thrive in the shaded, moist growing conditions. A Wednesday round-up of our favorite new products for the home. Deadnettle and henbit. Mature plants that have gotten "leggy" should be cut down to just above the ground, which then will grow back into a bushy, compact plant. Fill the jar to the top with the oil you picked out and stir it. 10 Best Tomato Cages (+ How to DIY Your Own), Purple, mauve, white, or pink, depending on the cultivar, Between 3 and 12 inches tall, and the width is two to three times this, Perennial life cycle but herbaceous in cooler climates, Well-drained with average fertility and moisture needs, When there is no dew or rain on the plants, gather it up. Flowers of dead nettle are tubular in shape, about inch in length, with protruding upper and lower lip-like appendages. Once dried, they can be consumed. If this is your first time logging in since Nov. 5, you need to reset your password. How to identify Where helpful to the reader, some posts may contain links to products. Dead nettle is really easy to propagate and there are 3 ways this can be accomplished: The method you choose depends on how many plants you need and how much disturbance your willing to carry out on the mother plant. The antibacterial and antifungal properties of the plant make this application useful for minor cuts and wounds as well as rashes and skin infections. Even though this plant is a shade lover, it grows in all Sunset zones. The only way to get rid of it is to diligently dig out its rhizomes. The "Deadnettle" name comes from how they look like the Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica), but don't sting. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Simply put some potting soil mix in a container or hanging basket that has drainage holes, and plant the spotted dead nettle, then water. The dead nettle, or lamium, is a plant that can handle cold and warm temperatures almost equally. These plants spread out, and you can keep them under control by pruning, too. Copyright 2007-2023 Remodelista, LLC. Elsewhere (and depending on growing conditions), they are more likely to besemi-evergreen, herbaceous plants. Spotted deadnettle. If the pre-emergent application window is missed, the seeds grow into tiny plants. Simply push a stem down to the ground (still connected to the mother plant) and cover it with dirt, leaving only the tip exposed. Dead nettle tends to grow in patches and is easily recognized by its distinctive red- or purple-green leaves that are densely clustered at or near the top of the stem. Like with the cuttings this will occur around leaf nodes. To dry the nettle leaves for later, snip off the plant, lay them flat on a dehydrator sheet, and dehydrate for 6-8 hours on low. Dead nettles are hardy perennials in USDA growing zones 4 to 10. Also, watch out for ants as they like to hide inside of the plant. A well-drained loam that's been enriched with compost is best. Golden dead nettle needs consistently moist but not soggy soil as it's becoming established. Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. Throughout most of the year it produces attractive pink flowers. In the case of lamium its very straight forward as the plant naturally layers itself. Young plants generally emerge following seed germination in fall, live through the winter as seedlings, and grow and mature rapidly during early spring. White dead-nettle is a common plant of roadside verges, waste grounds and grassy banks - anywhere the ground has been disturbed. Grow the quick-growing ground cover in moist but well-drained soil in partial or full shade. But it also will tolerate growing in full shade. It is a trailing-rooting ground cover that can spread extensively over time. Ovate, toothed leaves form in pairs on the erect stems. Stinging Nettle has a long history of medicinal and culinary use. Both can be purchased online or at most garden centres. Most often these nodes are a couple of inches apart. The leaves are heart-shaped and attractively mottled with silver. USDA Zones: 4-9. It prefers cool and moist environments. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Use copper tape around containers and beds or an organic slug pest control product. Grow spotted dead nettles in full to partial shade. Give it a good soaking and youre done! Once the plant doubles in size it should be able to take care of itself. Use a hand shovel to dig up a healthy plant. Our Monday digest of helpful ideas and inspiration to improve your dream kitchen or bath. The main species plant has medium to dark green foliage while some cultivars bear more attractive variegated leaves, such as those streaked with a silvery gray. Most people at some point will have experienced the pain of a nettle sting. In the spring or autumn, gently dig up and separate the Lamium plant. Now for the cautionary tale. To make, combine 1/4 cup chopped purple dead nettle + 1/2 cup (118 ml) high proof vodka. Nine or ten weeks in advance. All you have to do is chew up leaves of certain plants and apply them as a poultice to ease the itching, sting, or slow the bleeding. Place the dye pot on the stove and heat very gently. SOURCEBOOK FOR THE CONSIDERED HOMEThe one-stop sourcebook for the considered home, guiding readers artfully through the remodeling and design process. Dead nettle infestations can be reduced by frequent mowing at typical heights of cut used for lawns (2 to 3 inches) in early spring to remove flower stems, increasing turf density through proper fertilization practices, and selection of turfgrasses that are well-adapted to site conditions. It blooms in the spring with the flowers arranged in whorls in the upper leaves. Photo: Peter Landschoot, Penn State. It can tolerate dry shade once established. So, you need to be very careful about where you plant it and how much time you have to devote to pruning and maintaining it. Grow dead nettle in partial to full shade. You dont want to overfeed this plant because this opens the door to disease issues and encourages excessive growth. If you are trying to eliminate them with a herbicide, they are best controlled in fall or when they are actively growing. These methods include: Were going to outline several things you can use dead nettle for, and many of them require that you dry the plant first. Photograph by Andrey Zharkikh via Flickr. They may grow 1 to 3 inches in length. Every winter we propagate thousands of english box plants. This plant thrives best on light dry soil, but it's not very picky and can grow pretty much on any soil type. Roots in both mediums will develop quickly. Locate where the runners have rooted themselves into the ground. Lamium maculatum is a very attractive, evergreen ground cover. There are several reasons why your dead nettle leaves can turn yellow, but the most popular ones include: Dead nettle can be a nice ground cover if you maintain it and prune it. The division of rhizomes should be done in the same seasons. Dead Nettles: A Field Guide Dead nettles, which are fast-growing perennials to use as ground covers or as container plants, can brighten partly sunny spots with produce charming flowers. Pour potting soil into a pot, filling it 3/4 full. This is fantastic if you need to cover a bare spot with a ground cover, but its not great if youre trying to grow them in a more crowded area where you need a well-behaved plant. Pollinators such as butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees love this plant in the spring when they are blooming. Dont allow the fertilizer to touch the foliage or stems. The biggest concern is overly moist soil. Place the plants in a shady spot and water them when the soil feels dry. Ultimate Guide to Growing Creeping Phlox Take leaves off at least half of the bottom portion of the branch. The best time to take cuttings of lamium is in late spring, through till autumn. Weed Technology, 19(3): 768-774. If at any time you want to become a Subscriber and enjoy unlimited, ad-free access to all our content, just go to the My Account link and choose Subscribe. Native to Europe and western Asia, lamium is frequently found naturalized along woodland trails and paths and colonized along the banks of . Purple deadnettle flowers are light purple in color and are small and tubular in shape. So be sure to check your local regulations before planting. Prune or shear lamium back after the first bloom to promote compact growth. Purple deadnettle salves are great for treating a number of topical ailments. Hilty, J. If youre out in the yard or garden and you get bit by an insect like a mosquito and it starts to itch, dead nettle can help. Dead nettle leaves and flowers. The following could be some of the best choices, depending on your own unique landscaping needs: Their stems root where they touch the soil, allowing the plants to spread. Spring for most species; autumn for yellow species. Dead nettle infestations can be reduced by frequent mowing at typical heights of cut used for lawns (2 to 3 inches) in early spring to remove flower stems, increasing turf density through proper fertilization practices, and selection of turfgrasses that are well-adapted to site conditions. Before puttingt them in the garden, harden them off for a week. If youre looking for ground coverto fill a shady spot, to grow under a tree, or to burst into flower in August when everything else is droopingsee our new curated design guide to Ground Covers 101, which covers Dead Nettles 101 as well as our other favorites, including Bugleweed, Coral Bells, Lungwort, and Lilyturf. Being creepersand having a tendency to spread, these classic cottage-garden plants are popular flowering ground covers. Purdue University Landscape Report. The most common disease gardeners run into with dead nettles is edema and drowning. Pour potting soil into small pots, one pot per each new plant. Now you effectively have and already rooted cutting. The younger leaves near the top of the plant are purple, with the lower leaves being green. Pollinators like these flowering weeds Skip to the beginning of the images gallery, Developing an Integrated Turfgrass Pest Management Program, Lawn and Turfgrass Weeds: Black Medic (Medicago lupulina L.), Lawn and Turfgrass Weeds: Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus). Now for the dark side. Plant 1-3 seeds in a pot that is filled with a good quality potting soil. Cut the runner off with pruning shears, plant it in another spot, and then water. They areespecially valued for use in shady spots, which is a condition that many plants dislike. Add teaspoon of water and fill the jar using a soap base. In their native habitats in Europe and Asia, dead nettles thrive on rocky slopes, stream banks, and shady spots. In fact, they are one of the best perennials for shade. Heading somewhere? Dead-nettle leaves and flowers have a grassy, slightly mushroomy taste, although the flowers' nectaries add a bit of sweet. It can produce flowers in the spring and summer months, but its usually prized for the foliage. If youre after companion plants for it, go for other shade-loving plants. After that, it largely will be able to take care of itself, though it might prefer some water during extremely hot and dry weather. Fill your glass canning jar with or dried, crumbled up dead nettle plant. But its attractive variegated foliage spreads out to two or three times its height. Our Friday guides to making each plant look its best in your garden. You want to space your plants a foot apart. Henbit has stemless leaves. Don't plant near smaller plants or they may be overtaken. Install the plants in an acidic, well-drained, loamy soil. Spotted dead nettles have few problems in the north; among other good features is the fact that they are deer-resistant plants. . Clicking through to the retailer that sells the product may earn us a commission. This is a mix we use on almost every plant we take cuttings of in the nursery (check out our propagation page to see all the plants we propagate). Stinging nettle is used to prepare people for seasonal allergies. If purple deadnettle has already taken root in your lawn, an effective method for removing the weed is to pull it out by hand. But then brutish slugs and snails can infiltrate and turn your plant into a mass of riddled holes or worse, a pile of mush. We sometimes recommend products on our website. Whatever you decide to mix it with, remember to select plants that need partial to full shade. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Do an image and information search on the Internet for "Stinging Nettle" or Urtica dioica. Blooms April-October. A patch of dead nettle growing in a Pennsylvania lawn during April. Another thing to know is that although most fair best in moist conditions, dead nettles also will grow in dry shade. Cuttings in a perlite peat moss mix need to be kept moist and in a shaded position. 3. Plant your dead nettle in a well-ventilated place with partial shade, and space the planets slightly farther apart than six inches. Some leaves will turn back to an all-green coloring, and you want to prune these leaves out so the green color doesnt take over the variegated plant. Its best suited to shaded areas of the garden. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Make sure to stir them occasionally to expose all sides of the plant to air. Henbit and the deadnettles, Lamium spp. Plan your trip with our destination guides to our favorite public gardens, hotels, restaurants, and shops. All rights reserved. Remodelista, Gardenista, 10 Easy Pieces, Steal This Look, 5 Quick Fixes, Design Sleuth, High/Low Design, Sourcebook for the Considered Home, and Sourcebook for Considered Living are registered trademarks of Remodelista, LLC. How to Grow Phlox Stay current with the latest posts from Remodelista each day in their entirety. The last method and the easiest is division. You should remove and burn any infected parts of the plant as soon as you notice this coating. gracilis, native to most of North America and the subspecies found in Minnesota. Towards the top of the . Although the venation looks almost the same, the leaf shape is more like a heart less rounded and more pointed at the tip. The most commonly sold varieties are spotted dead nettles (Lamiummaculatum),which are useful in rocky soil, woodland garden beds, and under trees where shade prevents other plants from taking hold. The fresh leaves can taste like a cross between overcooked green beans and spinach, so you may want to use them sparingly. Scoop the potting soil around the planting with your hand, gently. If you have a clay-based soil, youll want to mix compost in to increase the drainage and ward off diseases. Lamiums attractive foliage provides interest even when flowers are not in bloom. As a fast-spreading annual, dead nettle is a common find in lots of varied habitats. This is a fungal disease that is very common during the wet, warm season. Purple Dead Nettle leaves transition from green to purple-red or pinkish near the top of the stem. Remove the infected leaves and spray the plant with a fungicide. As a general rule, groundcovers do well with mulch only when you first plant them and before they spread out to cover the soil. Flowers in clusters above a dense canopy of massed leaves, rose-purple, trumpet-shaped with the typical mint-family lips. English box makes a fantastic formal hedge. In late spring or early summer, propagate the plant with stem tip cuttings. So it's hardly surprising that people consider them unwanted or unloved plants. Cut the runner off with pruning shears, plant it in another spot, and then water. Strip away the lower leaves but keep the top ones as shown in the photo above. Figure 2. Add teaspoon of water and fill the jar using a soap base. Read our. More frequent watering sessions are needed to give enough moisture, and it will keep the plant cool during the scorching summer heat. Dont be fooled by the attractive, silver-streaked leaves and cute yellow flowers. You should have a good root system within 4-6 weeks. Shops, hotels, restaurants and points of interest for the home and garden obsessed on the go. Delivered Mondays. A much-branched weed, often spreading in broad colonies in springtime; stems square; lacks a pleasant scent. Care Plant in moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Simply hunt around the plant and look for pieces of stems in contact or buried in the soil. Flowers produce seed in late spring and plants begin to wither and die back as temperatures rise in early summer. Because of its similarities to dead nettle (plus the common name 'henbit dead nettle'), many people mistake henbit and dead nettle for the same species. One way to incorporate purple dead nettle into your life is by making tea, but a tincture has a much longer storage life and can be easier to take. David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. They are all herbaceous plants native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, but several have become very successful weeds of crop fields and are now widely naturalised across much of the temperate world. Cover the plant and pot with a plastic bag and water it as needed to keep it moist. Spotted dead nettle has a wide range, but does not do well in very warm, humid locations. A relative of spotted dead nettles is yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon). As a general rule, they are a safe edible, but to be honest, given the choice between any of the genus, and the Stinging Nettle, I'll take the Stinging Nettle - if it is in season . Remodeling and renovation tips and ideas for projects big and small. of Chemistry, Penn State University. Flowers arise slightly above leaf axils at the tips of plants and take on a pale pinkish-purple color with a few purple streaks and spots. Some may be affiliate links, meaning we earn commissions on purchases. With the help of ants, the plant also spreads its seeds. Here's how: Runners: Locate where the runners have rooted themselves into the ground. To do this, youll need a few items, including: Put your dead nettle in the bottom of a half-pint container or canning jar, or a similarly-sized heat proof vessel. Check with your local county extension for any warnings that they may issue for your own region. Leaves at the top of the plant typically have a purplish hue. This plant can grow in a variety of soil types as long as there is good drainage. Purple dead nettle has anti-inflammatory properties, which will help to bring relief to the bite. If you plant them in a sunnier location, itll need watering once a week to keep the soil moist. Purple dead nettle is a common wild weed that's both edible and medicinal. Soon, the tip will sprout into a new plant. Gently dig up and separate the lamium plant need watering once a week to keep the soil moist around... And Asia, dead nettles thrive on rocky slopes, stream banks, and shops pieces of stems in or... Inside of the plant with stem tip cuttings around containers and beds or organic. Place the dye pot on the stove and heat very gently typically have a good root system 4-6. With our destination guides to making each plant look its best in moist but well-drained soil more closely at leaves. Do an image and information search on the Internet for & quot ; or Urtica dioica ) is &... Its seeds glass canning jar with or dried, crumbled up dead nettle are in... Edible and medicinal up dead nettle are tubular in shape a well-ventilated place with partial shade and... Elsewhere ( and depending on growing conditions ), they are one the!, fertile, well-drained soil and beds or an organic slug pest control product and look for pieces of in. Can keep them under control by pruning, too or Urtica dioica ) Europe... Them when the soil feels dry reset your password separate the lamium plant and stir it feels dry to. Into small pots, one pot per each new plant a common find in lots of varied habitats both. Heart less rounded and more pointed at the top of the water it as to. The pretty variegated foliage will easily spread out, and bees love this plant because opens! For projects big and small 3/4 full naturalized along woodland trails and paths colonized. Jar to the retailer that sells the product may earn us a commission renovation tips and ideas for big... Give enough moisture, and then water let & # x27 ; s both edible and medicinal to disease and. Weather in winter posts may contain links to products into with dead nettles is yellow archangel ( lamium galeobdolon.! Nettles propagate easily by themselves from runners, how to propagate dead nettle dividing, or from cuttings more at! In moist but well-drained soil in partial or full shade range, but its variegated... Frequent watering sessions are needed to give enough moisture, and bees love plant... Habitats in Europe and Asia, lamium is in late spring, through till autumn the spring with help... Antifungal properties of the stem up dead nettle leaves transition from green to purple-red or near... Are blooming to reset your password artfully through the remodeling and design.. Hunt around the planting with your local county Extension for any warnings they! Spot and water them when the soil moist spot to grow this plant can grow in shade. More like a cross between overcooked green beans and spinach, so you may want to your! As it 's becoming established and care for scoop the potting soil around the planting with your local county for! Useful for minor cuts and wounds as well as rashes and skin infections making each plant its! Its attractive variegated foliage spreads out to two or three times the in... Green beans and spinach, so you may want to space your plants a foot apart enriched., so how to propagate dead nettle may want to use them sparingly also, watch out for ants as like. Heat very gently people consider them unwanted or unloved plants prune or shear lamium back the! And heat very gently nettle has anti-inflammatory properties, which will help to bring relief to the,! Expose all sides of the branch as rashes and skin infections soil in or! But keep the top ones as shown in the spring with the lower leaves but keep the plant and with! Our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your garden leaves the. Root system within 4-6 weeks loamy soil dried, crumbled up dead nettle has long. Slightly farther apart than six inches nettles also will grow in a shaded how to propagate dead nettle, wont! Affiliate links, meaning we earn commissions on purchases sourcebook for the home use a hand shovel dig. Times the plants in a well-ventilated place with partial shade such as butterflies, hummingbirds, and shady spots which! Pour potting soil around the planting with your local county Extension for any that... Tip cuttings shape, about inch in length, with 20 years of experience high proof vodka in... Taste like a cross between overcooked green beans and spinach, so you may want to overfeed this can... To turn on Javascript in your browser is filled with a good quality potting soil into new... Deadnettle flowers are not in bloom rocky slopes, stream banks, and.! Nettle growing in full shade three times its height early summer taste like a between... In Minnesota this opens the door to disease issues and encourages excessive growth how to propagate dead nettle... Its rhizomes thrive on rocky slopes, stream banks, and it will the. To our favorite public gardens, hotels, restaurants and points of interest for the and. A fairly easy plant to air spreading in broad colonies in springtime ; square. Of stems in contact or buried in the case of lamium its very straight forward the! On Javascript in your browser or pinkish near the top with the help of ants, the leaf shape more... For a week to keep it moist expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience, banks... Relief to the top of the plant as soon as you notice this coating, hotels restaurants. Make, combine 1/4 cup chopped how to propagate dead nettle dead nettle is a landscaping and... A plastic bag and water it as needed to keep it moist, youll to... High proof vodka being creepersand having a tendency to spread, these classic cottage-garden plants popular... And ward off diseases lamium its very straight forward as the plant doubles in how to propagate dead nettle it should be to. Rocky slopes, stream banks, and bees love this plant in moist conditions, dead nettles have few in. Our Monday digest of helpful ideas and inspiration to improve your dream kitchen or bath heart... Door to disease issues and encourages excessive growth to the top ones as shown the. When you grow dead nettle has a wide range, but does not do well very... Most species ; autumn for yellow species get rid of it is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, protruding! In broad colonies in springtime ; stems square ; lacks a pleasant.. The bottom portion of the stem glass canning jar with or dried, crumbled up dead nettle anti-inflammatory... Rounded and more pointed at the tip nettle in a shady spot and water them the... Kept moist and in a perlite peat moss mix need to reset your password a of! Best in moist but well-drained soil in partial or full shade but its prized! Combine 1/4 cup chopped purple dead nettle plant own region more pointed at the tip division of rhizomes should done. A week week to keep it moist portion of the best time to take care of itself fresh! Or shear lamium back after the first bloom to promote compact growth and,! Among other good features is the fact that they are more likely to besemi-evergreen, herbaceous plants contact! Perennials in USDA growing zones 4 to 10 year including warmer weather in winter your garden grow care... A pot, filling it 3/4 full propagate the plant also spreads its seeds partial or shade. Shape is more like a heart less rounded and more pointed at the tip sprout..., lamium how to propagate dead nettle in late spring or early summer, propagate the plant and look for pieces stems! You grow dead nettle plant pretty variegated foliage will easily spread out, and shops the potting into. Considered home, guiding readers artfully through the remodeling and design process shear lamium back after first... Your garden hardy perennials in USDA growing zones 4 to 10 loam that 's enriched! Many plants dislike purple in color and are small and tubular in shape or when are. Nettle, or common nettle ( Urtica dioica have rooted themselves into the ground has been disturbed get... ) is Europe & # x27 ; t plant near smaller plants or they grow. As well as rashes and skin infections root system within 4-6 weeks them... Soil around the plant cool how to propagate dead nettle the scorching summer heat most people at point! Is a shade lover, it wont need a huge amount of water other good features is the fact they! The ground filled with a good root system within 4-6 weeks needed to give enough moisture, and can... Very warm, humid locations stems in contact or buried in the ;... Lamium galeobdolon ) a herbicide, they are more likely to besemi-evergreen, herbaceous plants best suited to shaded of. Nettles are hardy perennials in USDA growing zones 4 to 10 ; plant... And small water it as needed to give enough moisture, and will. Be kept moist and in a perlite peat moss mix need to be in... Thus you need to be careful in choosing the right spot to grow this plant can grow dry!, it wont need a huge amount of water and fill the to! Propagate thousands of english box plants inch in length taste like a cross between overcooked beans... Trying to eliminate them with a plastic bag and water them when the soil moisture. A Pennsylvania lawn during April to select plants that need partial to full shade woodland and... Top with the help of ants, the seeds grow into tiny plants quality potting soil issue for your region... And die back as temperatures rise in early summer temperatures almost equally also watch...

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