Red dead-nettle
Also known as
Purple deadnettle, Red deadnettle, Purple dead-nettle, Purple archangel, Dead-nettle
Keep this plant’s care guide close at hand.
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Lamium purpureum, commonly called red or purple dead-nettle, is a low, sprawling annual to short-lived biennial in the mint family (Lamiaceae). It forms mats of soft, downy, opposite leaves with scalloped edges; lower leaves are green and heart-shaped on long petioles, while the upper leaves often flush purplish, especially in cool weather. Square stems bear whorls of small, tubular, magenta-pink flowers with a hooded upper lip, providing early-season nectar for bees and other pollinators. Typically 10–30 cm tall, it thrives in disturbed soils and can bloom from late winter through spring, sometimes into autumn in mild climates. Although it resembles stinging nettles, it lacks stinging hairs (“dead” nettle) and is generally edible, with mild, slightly grassy leaves and nectar-rich flowers. It prefers moist, well-drained soils but tolerates a wide range of conditions, spreading readily by seed. Often managed as a weed in gardens and fields, it can also serve as a living mulch, early forage for pollinators, and a resilient, low-care groundcover in informal plantings.
Taxonomy
Properties & Requirements
How to care for Red dead-nettle
Water
Outdoors, rainfall often suffices. Keep soil evenly moist—but not waterlogged—while seedlings establish. Water deeply and infrequently, allowing the top 2–3 cm of soil to dry between sessions. Once established, it tolerates brief dry spells but performs best with consistent moisture in spring. In containers, ensure sharp drainage and empty saucers promptly. Reduce watering during hot midsummer dormancy or when growth stalls, and resume modest irrigation with cooler weather to encourage renewed flowering and foliage.
Light
Full sun to partial shade. In cool, moist climates, full sun promotes compact growth and abundant flowering. In warmer regions or where summers are hot, provide morning sun with light afternoon shade to prevent stress and premature decline. It will tolerate fairly heavy shade but may grow looser and flower less. Aim for 4–6 hours of direct sun in spring for best color and bloom, paired with well-drained, moderately moist soil to avoid root issues in shaded, wet sites.
Nutrients
Lamium purpureum is not a heavy feeder and often thrives in average to poor soils without supplemental fertilizer. In garden beds, a light top-dressing of compost in early spring supports steady growth while preserving soil structure. For container culture, use a balanced, diluted fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-10 at quarter strength) monthly during active growth, then stop in summer heat. Avoid high-nitrogen programs that encourage excessive, floppy growth and rampant self-seeding. Maintain organic matter and good drainage rather than focusing on high fertility.
Temperature
A cool-season species, Lamium purpureum germinates and grows best around 5–18°C (41–64°F). It tolerates light to moderate frosts and often overwinters as rosettes, resuming growth on mild winter days. Flowers appear early in spring and can persist into autumn in temperate regions. Sustained heat above ~30°C (86°F) can halt growth; plants may yellow or collapse, then reappear from new seedlings with cooler temperatures. No special frost protection is required; seeds readily survive winter in most temperate climates.
