Red Dead-Nettle › Red dead-nettle, bees and wildlife
Red dead-nettle, bees and wildlife
When the first bumblebees come out of hibernation, they need food straight away. Red dead-nettle is one of the plants that provides it.
An early food source
Red dead-nettle flowers year-round in mild weather, so it can supply nectar for bees when other sources are scarce. In the UK it is an important early-spring pollen source, and its crimson pollen is easy to see on visiting bees. In the early part of the year, queen bumblebees that have emerged from hibernation need to feed and start nests, and they search for flowers wherever they can find them. A patch of dead-nettle in a sheltered spot can be a valuable early refuelling station.
How the flower suits bees
The dead-nettle flower is tubular, with a hooded upper lip and a lower lip that acts as a landing platform. The hood shelters the stamens, so visiting insects brush against pollen as they push inside for nectar. Long-tongued insects such as bumblebees can reach the nectar at the bottom of the tube. Its relative, white dead-nettle, is especially attractive to bumblebees, giving it the nickname "bee nettle". Red dead-nettle's smaller flowers are visited by a mixture of bees and other insects.
Who visits
- Bumblebees: queens in early spring and workers later.
- Honeybees: on warmer days, when they take advantage of early forage.
- Solitary bees: some of the early-flying species.
- Hoverflies and other insects: visit for nectar and pollen when the weather allows.
The exact mix depends on where you are and the weather. If you keep a record of which insects you see, you may spot something interesting.
Other wildlife
Dead-nettles are also food for some insects. Moth larvae and small case-bearer larvae feed on plants in the genus, and the dense growth gives shelter to small invertebrates in winter. Seeds may be eaten by small birds and insects. Nothing here makes red dead-nettle a rare or protected plant, but it does fill a useful gap in the ecosystem.
A flower that fills a gap
Gardeners often plant bulbs, hellebores and early shrubs for bees. Wild flowers that bloom in the same gap, such as dandelions, lesser celandine, white dead-nettle and red dead-nettle, are just as valuable and are free. Many of the plants we call weeds provide this seasonal support.
How to help
- Leave a patch. Keep a small area of dead-nettle at the edge of a bed or lawn and let it flower before you weed.
- Delay tidying. If you must remove it, wait until after the main flowering period in spring.
- Avoid herbicides and slug pellets near flowering patches, which can harm insects.
- Plan for the whole year. Combine early wild flowers with flowers for summer and autumn so that insects have food in every season.
- Provide shelter and water. A shallow dish with stones gives bees a place to drink.
Weed or wildflower?
It's your choice. If it's growing where you want vegetables, you may want to remove it; see garden management for easy ways to do that. If it's growing in a corner, you can leave it. To check you've got the right plant, use the identification guide. If you'd like to eat it, read the foraging cautions first.
Frequently asked questions
Do bees like red dead-nettle?
Yes. It provides nectar and pollen early in the year when few other flowers are open, and its crimson pollen is easy to see on visiting bees.
Why is it good for bumblebees?
Queen bumblebees emerging from hibernation need food early, and red dead-nettle flowers in mild weather throughout the year.
Should I leave dead-nettle in my garden for wildlife?
If you can spare a corner, yes. Let it flower before you weed, and avoid herbicides near it.