Lamium Species, Archangel, Purple Dead Nettle, Red Dead Nettle
Lamium purpureum
Family: | Lamiaceae (lay-mee-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Lamium (LAY-mee-um) (Info) |
Species: | purpureum (pur-PUR-ee-um) (Info) |

Category:
Perennials
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage:
Grown for foliage
Herbaceous
Good Fall Color
Shiny/Glossy
Foliage Color:
Bronze
Height:
6-12 in. (15-30 cm)
Spacing:
15-18 in. (38-45 cm)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Where to Grow:
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Danger:
N/A
Bloom Color:
Lavender
Bloom Characteristics:
Bloom Size:
Under 1"
Bloom Time:
Late Winter/Early Spring
Other details:
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements:
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
By dividing the rootball
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
Seed Collecting:
Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed
Collect seedhead/pod when flowers fade; allow to dry
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Huntsville, Alabama
Barling, Arkansas
Ellendale, Delaware
Cleveland, Georgia
Cornelia, Georgia
Gainesville, Georgia
Oakwood, Georgia
Anna, Illinois
Valparaiso, Indiana
Warren, Indiana
Benton, Kentucky
Hebron, Kentucky
Somerset, Kentucky
Brookeville, Maryland
Erie, Michigan
Scotts, Michigan
Marietta, Mississippi
Cole Camp, Missouri
Staten Island, New York
Dallas, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Kinsman, Ohio
South Point, Ohio
Gold Hill, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Millersburg, Pennsylvania
Saluda, South Carolina
Crossville, Tennessee
Franklin, Tennessee
Johnson City, Tennessee
Clarksville, Texas
Floyd, Virginia
Leesburg, Virginia
Mechanicsville, Virginia
Poquoson, Virginia
Portsmouth, Virginia
Richlands, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Roanoke, Virginia
Graham, Washington
Kirkland, Washington
Vancouver, Washington
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Negative | On Mar 29, 2018, BeetleBeth from Graham, WA wrote: This plant started growing in our yard, a long time ago. We had gotten rid of it for a while but it came back. (Our area is zone 8 in the northwest.) I wouldn't mind it if it was more useful, like dandelions (you can eat the whole dandelion except the stem, I believe [don't quote me though!]) and less prolific. I have been watching the plants closely, and it seems that the Thatcher ants are eating and spreading it's seeds! And so the plants end up in weird places almost anywhere in your yard. They are especially hard to get rid of if they get into the grass. Ive tried pouring boiling water on them too, but that doesn't seem to work like it does on the other plants I don't want in my garden. Im not a big fan of chemicals, but this year i might be ok with them just to get rid of this plant. ... read more |
Negative | On May 25, 2013, plant_it from Valparaiso, IN wrote: This dead nettle is native to Europe and Asia. It can get quite invasive here in the U.S. My neighbors otherwise healthy woodlands are infested with it. It colonizes and forms big patches. Similarly, I've noticed that the cornfields around here that have not been planted yet are loaded with dead nettle. I'm thinking if it takes over not just disturbed areas but also healthy woodlands, look out. |
Neutral | On Jun 25, 2011, DMersh from Perth, Probably not native to USA (it seems to run out of control there, judging from other comments, like many introduced species) |
Neutral | On Apr 20, 2011, marti001 from Somerset, KY (Zone 6b) wrote: I find this plant interesting. It grows wild in my yard, but I can pull it up easily. I do like it as it is the first color in the spring along with the wild violets. After it's done blooming I start pulling it. |
Positive | On May 5, 2009, giftgas from Everson, WA (Zone 7b) wrote: Easy to germinate. It spreads by seed, but then dies to the ground. I don't see how it is a problem, being that it is an annual, and it is a very small plant. I grow this plant on purpose, and then enjoy the blooms for a short time, and when it dies, different species are already emerging to take its place. If you time your garden correctly, you can have a wide selection of plants living in the same spot all year, each taking turns before bowing out to the next one in line. |
Positive | On Nov 28, 2007, creekwalker from Benton County, MO (Zone 5a) wrote: I have to say I like this plant. It might grow profusely in the spring, but it never seems to choke anything out and as summer progresses, it dies away. |
Negative | On Apr 21, 2007, CaptMicha from Brookeville, MD (Zone 7a) wrote: Bad plant. We seem to have it very bad this year. It's all over in every bed and everywhere in the lawn too. |
Negative | On Mar 21, 2007, centralva from Richmond, VA wrote: This plant is invasive.You will pull the plants up and herbicide. |
Neutral | On Mar 19, 2007, Scorpioangel from Gold Hill, OR (Zone 7a) wrote: One of the weediest plants I know of in garden areas. But on the other hand it has some of the best early spring color of any plant I have seen. I got rid of it growing in the garden beds by letting oak leaves set all winter and into spring and then just dug them into the soil at planting time. Oak leaves tend to inhibit seed germination. |
Negative | On Mar 16, 2007, altavista from Floyd, VA wrote: This plant drives me nuts! It is taking over my garden. The root system is so large that you have to dig it out rather than pull. Clearing it in the late fall or early spring seems to be the easiest. |
Negative | On Mar 14, 2007, gessieviolet from Saluda, SC (Zone 8a) wrote: This weed takes over areas of my garden in early spring!! It is impossible to pull and grows best for me in areas where I have spent a previous season attempting to bring the area under control for other uses. I can't imagine why anyone would want to grow it!!! It definitely falls into the catagory "one man's weed, is another man's wildflower". |
Positive | On Apr 18, 2005, Fancee1945 from Scotts, MI (Zone 5b) wrote: I am in SW Michigan and this plant grows all by itself in my garden areas. Not sure where it came from but I really like it. I have tried to find detailed information on it. Finally this weekend I have dug out every plant in my garden areas, I sure didn't want to because it is a beautiful plant. So I guess I can say it POSITIVELY grows wild here on its own. |
Neutral | On Apr 5, 2005, nevadagdn from Sparks, NV (Zone 7a) wrote: I've been spectacularly successful at killing this supposedly invasive plant. As in I've tried to grow it, and it's died each and every time. |
Negative | On Apr 4, 2005, melody from Benton, KY (Zone 7a) wrote: Invasive isn't a good word for this plant...it flows in purple waves all along the roadsides and in everyone's yards...strangling everything in it's path. |
Negative | On Feb 19, 2005, GardenGuyKin from Portland, OR (Zone 8a) wrote: Simply put, it's invasive here. |
Neutral | On Oct 16, 2002, ohmysweetpjs from Brookeville, MD wrote: Cute little plant. Not invasive like some and though you have to look very closely to see in detail, the flowers are very pretty though quite small. I'm almost certain it's also a butterfly host plant. |