Lamium album

Growing in Pots, Balconies & Indoors

White dead nettle is a low, spreading groundcover with edible leaves – the grower does not class it as a houseplant, but it grows readily in outdoor pots, boxes and baskets, and a container usefully checks its vigorous, invasive spread while keeping the tender leaves handy for picking.

Quick Details

• Container Size: Small to medium – a 5-10 L (1.3-2.5 gal) pot or box for a plant of 20-80 cm
• Indoor Suitability: Not a houseplant – an outdoor edible groundcover for pots and baskets
• Best Spot: Full sun to half shade; it tolerates shade, handy for dimmer balcony corners
• Soil & Drainage: Well-drained mix; it is not fussy once established
• Watering in Pots: Small to average – let the surface dry a little between waterings; avoid waterlogging

Indoors & On the Windowsill

• Not a houseplant: The grower marks it unsuitable indoors – it wants outdoor light and air as an edible groundcover.
• Containing its spread: Growing it in a pot is a good way to enjoy this invasive plant, keeping its runners inside the container.

On a Balcony or Patio

• An edible trailer: Its spreading habit suits baskets and box fronts; young tender leaves and shoots can be harvested for the kitchen.
• Watering: Keep the mix from drying right out in sun and wind, and harvest young growth for the best flavour.

Choosing the Pot, Soil & Long-Term Care

• Pot & drainage: A pot or box with strong drainage holes; skip a standing water saucer so roots never sit wet.
• Potting mix: A well-aerated, free-draining mix – potting compost with a little perlite.
• Feeding: A light feed through growth is plenty; for edible leaves, keep feeding gentle and let nutrients top up little and often.
• Repotting: Divide and refresh the mix every year or two to keep it vigorous and within bounds.

Bloom & Edible Flower Guide

Quick Details

• Bloom Season: Spring, summer and into autumn
• Flower Appearance: White, hooded two-lipped flowers ringed around the stem
• Edibility: Edible – the sweet-nectared white flowers are used fresh, in salads and in herbal teas

Detailed Blooming Overview

White dead-nettle is a familiar edible herb whose white hooded flowers appear in whorls up the stems from spring well into autumn. The blooms hold a drop of sweet nectar – long enjoyed straight from the flower – and both the young leaves and the flowers are used fresh, in salads and in herbal teas. Bees favour it throughout its long season.

Flower Characteristics

• White, two-lipped hooded flowers of the mint family
• Held in neat whorls around the square stems
• Sweetly nectared and much visited by bees

Bloom Care & Thinning

• Using the flowers: pick freshly opened blooms for salads, garnishes or tea; the young leaves are also edible
• Shearing: cut back after the first flush to freshen growth and bring on more flowers
• Pollination: nectar-rich flowers attract bees

Bloom Health & Protection

• Powdery mildew can film the leaves in dry shade later in the season – cutting back and better airflow help, and a sulfur-based or neem spray can slow it