Yellow archangel, Yellow dead nettle
Lamium galeobdolon

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A creeping herb which keeps growing from year to year. It has runners or stolons which root at the nodes. It grows 30 cm high. It spreads 120 cm wide. It grows low to the ground. The leaves have some hairs. They are oval and have coarse teeth. The leaves are like stinging nettles but they don't have stinging hairs. The flowers are yellow with brown flecks.

There are about 50 Lamium species. It can be invasive.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in damp, shady places. It suits plant hardiness zones 3-9. It is very shade tolerant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Balkans, Britain, Europe, Germany, Hungary, Macedonia, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden

How it is used for food

The young shoots and leaves are boiled and eaten or sauteed in butter. The flowers are sucked for their nectar.

It is foraged and used in restaurants in Sweden.

Edible parts

Flowers, leaves, nectar

How it is grown

It spreads rapidly by vegetative growth. It rarely sets seed.

It is fast growing.

Its other names

Local names

Arvacsihan, Szelidcsanal, Szopoka

Synonyms

Lamiastrum galeobdolon (L.) Ehrend. & Polatschek; Galiobdolon luteum Huds; and others