Purple Dead Nettle

Purple Dead Nettle

After a few days of rain, I found another nutritious herb emerging in my yard. Purple Dead Nettle is one of the earliest spring herbs in the Midwest. A member of the mint family, it is edible and full of vitamins. The tender tops are wonderful in salads or blended into smoothies.

Purple Dead Nettle can also be brewed into a gentle tea that supports the immune system.

It is an important early food source for bees coming out of hibernation. The queen bee must begin rebuilding the colony in early spring, and she can lay up to 2,000 eggs per day when the hive is strong. Early flowering plants like Purple Dead Nettle provide the nectar and pollen she needs to fuel this incredible burst of life.

Because it appears so early in the season, it has long been associated with new life and the awakening of the earth.

My chickens love it too.

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#wildherbs #plantwisdom #herbaltradition #homesteadlife #foraging