It is typically an annual or winter annual.

How do I get rid of it?

Hand pulling before it sets seed is the most effective method.

Plant guide

Purple deadnettle.

Lamium purpureum

Pronounced LAY-mee-um pur-PUR-ee-um

Also known as Purple Dead-nettle, Purple Deadnettle

red deadnettle — Photo by Lauren Gillett (CC BY) via iNaturalist

This charming little plant is a common sight in gardens and fields during early spring. It is a member of the mint family and spreads quite easily. You will often see it blooming before many other plants wake up.

Another photo of Purple deadnettle — Photo by Douglas Goldman (CC BY-SA) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Annual herb
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 10 to 20 centimeters
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 9
Bloom time: Early spring to late autumn

Care

It thrives in most soil conditions and prefers consistent moisture. Watch for wilting if the soil dries out completely. It can be quite aggressive so keep an eye on its spread.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Feeding: Fertilizer is usually not needed as it grows vigorously on its own.
Pruning: Trim back if you want to control its spread or encourage bushier growth.
Repotting: Since it is an annual, you typically do not need to repot it.
Soil: Well draining loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -20 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Annual, typically 1 year
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes
Stunted growth despite regular watering

Safety

People: It is generally considered non toxic to humans.
Pets: This plant is generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Children: There are no specific safety concerns for children, though it is best to discourage eating wild plants.
Contact allergens: Some individuals may experience mild skin irritation from handling the foliage.
Airborne allergens: The pollen can be a minor allergen for sensitive individuals during peak bloom.
Edibility: While the leaves are technically edible, they can be bitter and are often considered a weed, so ensure they are harvested from clean, chemical free areas.

How to identify it

Square stems typical of mint family
Heart shaped leaves with serrated edges
Purple or pink hooded flowers
Upper leaves often have purple tint

Height: 0.1 to 0.3m
Spread: 0.15 to 0.3m
Leaves: green, purple, deciduous
Flowers: purple, pink, 0.5 to 1.5cm

Problems to watch for

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your purple deadnettle from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: It often survives the winter as a low rosette of leaves in milder climates.
In containers: It grows well in containers but will quickly fill the pot and spread to others if not managed.

Seed

1. Collect seeds from dried flower heads in late spring.
2. Scatter seeds onto bare, moist soil.
3. Lightly rake the soil to cover the seeds.

Because it spreads so aggressively, it is best to keep it away from delicate perennial beds.

Grows well with

Common Chickweed · They often grow together in similar disturbed soil conditions.

Similar species

Henbit · It is a very similar looking relative that also grows as a common weed.

Science

Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Lamium
Order: Lamiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe and parts of Asia.
Conservation: It is considered a common weed and is not of conservation concern.

It thrives in disturbed soils and garden beds where it can quickly outcompete other small plants.

Value to wildlife: early season nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: ground cover, pollinator forage, foraging

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 5/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 6/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it a perennial?: It is typically an annual or winter annual.
How do I get rid of it?: Hand pulling before it sets seed is the most effective method.

Where the name comes from

The name Lamium comes from the Greek word for throat, referring to the shape of the flowers, while purpureum refers to the purple color of the foliage.

Good to know

It is often called deadnettle because it looks like stinging nettle but lacks the sting.
The leaves often turn a distinct purplish hue in cooler weather.
It is a member of the mint family, which you can tell by its square stems.

Keep your purple deadnettle growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

Get the app

This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.