On downy, erect, square stalks, White Dead-nettle bears its white flowers in whorls. These open-mouthed flowers (25-30mm long) have two lips, the hooded upper hairy, the lower toothed and sometimes streaked green. Seen in close-up, the lips are edged with lovely fringeing. The flowers emerge from the axils of the upper leaves and bloom from March to November. The toothed leaves are opposite, heart-shaped and stalked and closely resemble those of the Common Nettle, the main difference being that they don't carry stinging hairs. The plant, which grows to about 40cm high, has a faint aroma, is a perennial and has creeping underground stems. It grows along roadsides, rivers and disturbed ground. It is not a native plant and it belongs to the family Lamiaceae.
I first identified this plant growing beside the River Slaney at Enniscorthy, Co Wexford in 2009 and photographed it at that time.
If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre
