Lamium album WHITE DEAD-NETTLE (20 seeds)

White Dead-nettle, also known as Lamium album in Latin, is a perennial herbaceous medicinal plant from the Lamiaceae family. It is native to all of Europe and Western Asia. This variety grows in diverse habitats ranging from meadows to wooded regions on moist soils.

Its foliage is strikingly similar to that of the common stinging nettle. The leaves are opposite, heart-shaped to oval, with strongly serrated edges. They are carried by square-shaped stems.

The leaves are hairy and a bright green color. The flowers appear from late spring until autumn; they are white and arranged in circles (whorls) at the axils of the upper leaves. The flower has an "open-mouth" shape.

The fruit is a tetrachene, meaning it divides into four distinct parts at maturity. The small seeds remain nestled at the bottom of the calyx while waiting to be dispersed.

White dead-nettle seeds are gray and elongated. They are small, measuring only 2 millimeters in length.

- Properties:

This highly aesthetic plant is perfect for gardening enthusiasts and fits very well in natural gardens. It boasts a generous flowering; its white flowers bring elegance to the garden and are a real ornamental asset.

Thanks to its dense growth, it can serve as a ground cover and is suitable for rockeries, borders, or flower beds. Very hardy and easy to grow, it is also highly melliferous (attractive to bees).

White dead-nettle is also used in herbal medicine. The benefits attributed in medicine include astringent, hemostatic, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Its young leaves and flowers are edible.
Do not consume without medical advice from a healthcare professional.

The leaves can be eaten raw in salads or cooked like spinach. The flowers are used as a garnish for dishes or to prepare mild, sweet herbal teas. This species is also excellent for biological pest control; it can be planted alongside potatoes as it repels Colorado potato beetles and improves the taste of the potatoes.

- Germination and Sowing:

• The period for sowing white dead-nettle is from April until the end of May.
• Prepare a tray of fine horticultural potting soil and sow the seeds on top without burying them.
• Water the culture using a spray bottle.
• Finally, place the tray in a greenhouse at a temperature close to 25°C. Germination will begin 2 to 3 weeks after planting.

- Soil Type / Substrate:

White dead-nettle is an undemanding plant that adapts to many soil types. However, it prefers cool, loose, and nitrogen-rich soils, such as those found on forest edges or in cleared areas.

- Exposure / Sunlight:

This species particularly enjoys partial shade. It thrives under the light cover of trees or shrubs, which allows it to maintain the coolness it prefers.

- Temperatures / Hardiness:

It is an extremely hardy plant, capable of withstanding temperatures as low as -20°C. It is perfectly adapted to temperate climates and requires no special winter protection.

- Watering / Water Needs:

Its water needs are moderate but regular. White dead-nettle prefers soils that remain cool. During prolonged droughts or high heat, watering is necessary to prevent the foliage from wilting. Mulching at the base of the plant is recommended to limit evaporation and maintain soil moisture.

- Multiplication:

Multiplication is very easy and can be done in two ways: by seed, but also by dividing the clumps in spring or autumn.

- Pests / Diseases:

White dead-nettle is a robust plant with little sensitivity to diseases. However, it can be a target for slugs and snails, which enjoy its young spring leaves. In overly humid and confined growing conditions, powdery mildew may occasionally appear late in the season.