Purple Dead-Nettle  (Red Dead-Nettle)

Lamium purpureum

This alien annual has leaves resembling those of nettles, but without the "sting," hence the name; it is a member of the mint family and has the characteristic square stems (but no minty scent). The upper stems have opposite pairs of closely arrayed heart- shaped leaves about 1 inch long; successive pairs are oriented at 90 degrees from their predecessors. The leaves are serrated on the edges and have marked grooves on the surface; upper leaves are often purplish.  Purplish or pink flowers appear in the upper leaf axils and in a cluster at the top of the stems; the flowers are about 1/4 - 3/8 inch long, with a hood and a lower lip divided into two lobes, the lower lip often paler pink or white with purple spots. The plant seeds profusely and can form dense colonies locally. The stems are sometimes largely devoid of leaves below the cluster of leaves near the flowering head.

To 1 foot, sun - partial sun.

Spring-Autumn (April-October).

9 April 2021.

Purple Dead-Nettle, 9 April 2021.