• Photo of Lamium purpureum (Lamium purpureums)

Plant Profile: Lamium purpureum

Taxonomy: Lamium purpureum

Names

Dead Nettle, Purple Archangel, Purple Dead Nettle, Purple Dead-nettle, Red Dead Nettle, Red Dead-nettle, Red Dead-nettle,, Velikdenche

  • Photo of Lamium purpureum (Lamium purpureums)

Phonetic Spelling:LAY-mee-um pur-PUR-ee-um

Genus:Lamium

Species:purpureum

Family:Lamiaceae

Purple Dead-nettle is often regarded as a weed, hailing from Europe and Asia. This low-growing plant produces blooms year-round, even during the milder winter months. You can typically find it in lawns, along roadways, in gardens, and in meadows. It is frequently mistaken for Henbit, with which it can coexist; however, Henbit is characterized by its stemless leaves.

This plant thrives in full sun to light shade and prefers moist, nutrient-rich soil. Its leaves are generally resilient against diseases and insect infestations. Notably, Purple Dead-nettle experiences rapid growth during the cool spring weather.

Lamium purpureum Feature Summary

Lamium purpureum Image Gallery

Tags

#weed
#weedy
#perennial weed

Similar Plants

Lamium purpureum is often confused with:

Lamium purpureum Feature Summary

Attributes
Macaronesia, Mediterranean, Europe to Western Siberia
Bee attracted to the flower
Perennial
Annual
Flowers
Purplish flowers have a top hooded petal with 2 lower lip petals. May be produced throughout the year. Sessile in whorls in the leave axils.
Purple/Lavender
Gold/Yellow
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
4-5 petals/rays
2-3 rays/petals
Leaves
Crowded heart-shaped leaves tend to overlap; upper leaves are often purplish with greenish undersides and hairy. Short petioles. Wavy to serrated margins.
Purple/Lavender
Cordate
Deltoid
Serrate
Undulate
1-3 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Weed
Wildflower

Lamium purpureum Attributes

Lamium purpureum: Country Or Region Of Origin

Macaronesia, Mediterranean, Europe to Western Siberia

Lamium purpureum: Wildlife Value

Bee attracted to the flower

Lamium purpureum: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Lamium purpureum Flowers

Lamium purpureum: Flower Description

Purplish flowers have a top hooded petal with 2 lower lip petals. May be produced throughout the year. Sessile in whorls in the leave axils.

Lamium purpureum: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender

Lamium purpureum: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Lamium purpureum: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Lamium purpureum: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Lamium purpureum Leaves

Lamium purpureum: Leaf Description

Crowded heart-shaped leaves tend to overlap; upper leaves are often purplish with greenish undersides and hairy. Short petioles. Wavy to serrated margins.

Lamium purpureum: Leaf Color

spa
Purple/Lavender

Lamium purpureum: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Lamium purpureum: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Lamium purpureum: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Lamium purpureum: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Lamium purpureum Whole Plant Traits

Lamium purpureum: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Lamium purpureum Stem

Lamium purpureum: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Lamium purpureum: Stem Cross Section

Angular
Oval
Round
Square

Lamium purpureum: Stem Surface

Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)