Is this a foxglove or nettle?

[mumarewenearlythereyet]

On the gravel next to my patio are loads of these little seedlings. Just two feet away is a big planter full of foxgloves. I was all excited thinking I have lot of foxglove babies but did a check in my plant identification app and it said .... purple dead nettle.

I've tried lots of different pictures and each time it says the same. I don't want to lovingly repot them and over winter them only to find out they were nettles!!

Any thoughts green fingered mumsnetters??

I don't think it's foxglove. I have loads of foxgloves that spread like weeds.

If they're nettles, they'll make lovely soup in the spring.

These are baby foxgloves.

foxgloves are poisonous and I don't understand why you'd want them in your garden

Could be primrose (or similar)?

Because I don't eat the flowers in my garden.

Oh, I missed your purple dead nettle ID
Those look quite nice! 🥰

You also have to be careful handling foxgloves as like ragwort the toxin can be absorbed through the skin. Fine if you know, and foxgloves are beautiful but you need to be careful if you have little children or pets.

Have you tried stinging yourself on them? Wash your hands after in case they’re foxgloves. I love foxgloves though - beautiful cottage garden type plant.

Are they primroses

Looks like a primula to me.

Sorry OP but I think your app is correct!

@CaptainMyCaptain ah, so not foxgloves then. Thank you!

@Whatevergetsyouthroughthenight Thank you!

Thanks everyone. You've saved me from carefully potting up about 20 nettles!

No need to worry about them being poisonous though. I have teenage children who never venture into the garden (why would they - there's no WiFi out there!) and I've planted them in the side of the house well away from other gardens where there may be children so they won't spread.

Definitely not Foxglove, Primula or Primrose - they look very much like the leaves of a member of the Lamiaceae (mint) family and could, therefore, be purple deadnettle, although, to me, they are reminiscent of young Lemon Balm plants, also a member of the Mint family

Hmm agree with PP, that looks like lemon balm or even mint to me - what does it smell like?

Mint is very invasive so be careful!

Definitely not foxglove. But Dead Nettle is not the same as Nettle so I wouldn't eat them as some seem to be suggesting!

And dead nettles don't sting so trying to sting yourself won't work.

Your app is correct.

Those are deadnettles.

They are beautiful. A lot of plants and flowers are poisonous! As long as you aren't licking them they are fine.

I was having second thoughts about foxgloves for my cottage garden - if I go ahead I'll wear gloves. Thought only the seeds were a problem

Deadnettle is not the same as stinging nettle. It looks superficially similar, but doesn't sting and some variants have very pretty flowers and foliage. It will grow in really tough places.

Yeah, deadnettle. They are actually quite pretty when they are in flower.