Common Dead-Nettle

Invasive:

Purple, or Red Dead-Nettle (Lamium purpureum var. purpureum), has triangular upper leaves and is red or purple-tinted.

Common Dead-Nettle is native to Eurasia but has since spread across the world.

Common Dead-Nettle prefers moderately dry, disturbed areas. It typically grows by roadsides, in croplands, pastures, waste areas, gardens, and in lawns. It thrives in cultivated soil and does not tolerate shade.

Common Dead-Nettle reproduces solely by seed. Each plant produces 200-2000 seeds, which can survive in the soil for up to 20 years, leading to the formation of a persistent seed bank. The plants contain both male and female flowers, so they can self-pollinate with the help of bees.

Dispersal over short distances occurs by wind and animals, while dispersal over longer distances occurs by flooding events or when birds and other animals consume the seeds.

Common Dead-Nettle is NOT currently found throughout the Sea to Sky Corridor, so the best approach to controlling its spread is by PREVENTION.

 

Learn to identify Common Dead-Nettle: Use the images presented in this profile page to learn how to identify Common Dead-Nettle.

What to do if you spot it: You can report any Common Dead-Nettle sighting by clicking here.

DO:

• Regularly monitor properties for weed infestations.
• Ensure soil and gravel are uncontaminated before transport.
• Check wildflower mixes to ensure that they do not contain Common Dead-Nettle.
• Ensure that plants are disposed of in a garbage bag if found in floral arrangements to prevent seeds from spreading.

 

DO NOT:

• Don’t unload, park or store equipment or vehicles in infested areas; remove plant material from any equipment, vehicles, or clothing used in such areas and wash equipment and vehicles at designated cleaning sites before leaving infested areas.
• Don’t plant Common Dead-Nettle in a garden, no matter how well-contained its enclosure may seem.
• Don’t move soil that has been contaminated with Common Dead-Nettle.
• Do not compost any Common Dead-Nettle plant parts.

 

Control

Mechanical

Tillage or cultivation is an effective way to control the seedlings. Small infestations can be hoed or pulled by hand.

Chemical

Numerous herbicides effectively control Common Dead-Nettle, including aminopyralid, dicamba, glyphosate, imazapyr, metsulfuron methyl, and rimsulfuron.

We recommend that any herbicide application is carried out by a person holding a valid BC Pesticide Applicator Certificate. Before selecting and applying herbicides, you must review and follow herbicide labels and application rates; municipal, regional, provincial and federal laws and regulations; species-specific treatment recommendations, and site-specific goals and objectives.

Biological

Although Common Dead-Nettle is a host to several crop pests, none are accepted biocontrol agents for this plant in BC.