This is the first post in a series where I show you the seasonal wild, free foods that I feed to my rabbit herd. It’s good for them and cheap for me, so it makes us all happy!
Purple dead nettle, also known as purple archangel or Lamium purpureum, is a herbaceous flowering member of the mint family common to North America, Europe and Asia. It’s edible to humans both cooked and raw and contains vitamins C, iron and fiber as well as flavonoids and minerals. It’s known in the herbal world as an astringent, diuretic, diaphoretic and purgative. It’s also anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal. The leaves can be used on external wounds or cuts, or as a poultice.
I have a whole field of this stuff popping up this spring, and the bunnies are loving it. I’ve been giving them all a great big handful each day and it disappears fast. Maybe your bunny would enjoy it too?
Caraway is about to mow down this pile to nothing
Abernathy's Rabbitry 
I LOVED this post! We call this stuff henbit, and I didn’t know that either humans or rabbits could eat it. Thanks so much for the tip!
I think henbit might be a different plant, Lamium amplexicaule. Make sure you have the right plant before you try feeding!
Oh, okay! Thanks. 🙂 Henbit looks very similar, but you’re right -it could be different. Thanks again!
I think they’re both edible, but henbit will have round scalloped leaves, while self-heal has pointed ones.