KILDARE WILDLIFE COLUMN: No stinging power from this pretty nettle

While out walking last week I came across a small pink flower growing on a grass verge between a footpath and a busy road.

This little wildflower was Red Dead-nettle (Caochneantóg dhearg as Gaeilge), a native wild plant that can be found in bloom from March through to November each year.

Unlike the Common Nettle, the leaves of Red Dead-nettle will not sting you if you happen to touch them and it is assumed this lack of stinging power is why this wildflower is named as ‘dead nettle’. The flowers are pink-purple and grow in clusters on the top of the plant which can reach up to 30cm in height.

The flowers are also not your typical shape, instead being described as ‘hooded’, in this case the larger upper lip (lips are irregular shaped petals) covering the smaller lower lips.

The green leaves are arranged in whorls around the stem and are heart shaped and toothed. Those leaves close to the top of the plant can often have a red to bronzy shade.

The stem is also square which can help you with identification. As Red Dead-nettle can bloom for much of the year, it allows the plant to be pollinated on many occasions and in turn produce many seeds which can be dispersed readily.

As it is also an early flowering plant many early bumblebees enjoy the source of nectar that this wildflower offers. As a result of the ability to produce many seeds, this particular wildflower is not a popular sight in gardens for many gardeners as it can quickly cover flower beds over the course of the year.

If you do find Red Dead-nettle in your flower beds it can be easily pulled by hand as the roots are quick shallow.

In terms of traditional uses for this wildflower it is said that freshly bruised leaves can be used as a tool to treat external cuts and wounds to ease bleeding.

If you spot a local wildlife species and would like to learn more, take a picture and you can send your wildlife encounter image to me at [email protected].