Dead-nettle, recognition and eradication

Down Garden Services

Red Dead-nettle

Scientific Name: Lamium purpureum
Other names: Badman’s Posies, Day Nettle, Deaf Nettle, Dog Nettle, Red Archangel
Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae)

Annual, spreading by seed but late germinated plants may overwinter and the spreading stems take root at nodes. Seeds usually remain viable in the soil for 4 to 6 years, but some have been recovered after about 20 years which germinated. Not a particularly invasive weed. A small amount of sweet nectar can be sucked from the base of the flower.
Flowers from April to October.
Height - up to 45 cm.
Hoe or hand pull, easily uprooted. In wet weather shoot fragments may take root.
Weedkillers to use:-
Dichlobenil ( Casaron G4 ) prevents emergence among established woody plants.
Paraquat, Diquat, contact action killing top growth.

Henbit Dead-nettle (Lamium amplexicaule), an annual, is similar.

Follow these links for further details on Weeds, Weed Removal and Weed Prevention.