Lamium purpureum – Purple Deadnettle

Purple Deadnettle or Lamium purpureum is an early spring flower that is often overlooked. Some consider it a weed because it tends to thrive in open sunny areas like your lawn. However the flower is quite beautiful upon close inspection.

Purple Deadnettle is a member of the mint family and is edible. The leaves stems have a square shape and the leaves attach to the stem on a petiole or leaf stem. There is a similar looking plant whose leaves attach session or without the leaf stem. The leaves are spade shaped with a wrinkled texture, hairs, and serrated edges. The leaves start at the bottom and progress up the stem as it grows. The flowers grow toward the end of the stalk and are pink to purple with a hood that almost fully protects the inside of the flower. The is also a different shaped petal that looks like a tongue and is like a runway for pollinators to the goodies inside.

Purple Deadnettle blooms in March and April and the blooms last several days ir even weeks.