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Purple Deadnettle, Red Deadnettle, Purple Archangel - Lamium purpureum


Family: Lamiaceae - Mint family Genus Common Name: Deadnettle Native Status: Introduced
Lamium purpureum - Purple Deadnettle, Red Deadnettle, Purple Archangel. The deadnettles are native to Europe and Asia, but are now widely naturalized in the United States. As with many non-native species which have become widespread in the U.S. Purple Deadnettle blooms early. A similar species is Henbit - L. amplexicaule - The middle and upper leaves of L. amplexicaule do not have petioles while those of L. purpureum have petioles on all leaves, although the upper ones are quite small. The leaves of Henbit (L. amplexicaule) are also typically smaller than those of Purple Deadnettle.
Lamium purpureum

Distribution of Lamium purpureum in the United States and Canada:
USDA Map temporarily unavailable.
Blue=Native; Grey=Introduced

Map from USDA Plants Database:
USDA, NRCS. 2017. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 16 Jan 2025). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

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Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2010-March-19Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Leaves of Purple Deadnettle are opposite. The upper leaves are close together, with every other pair 90 degrees from the prior one, making for a dense group of leaves near the top. The upper leaves will have a purple hue. The pink-purple blossoms form from clusters around the upper leaf axils.
Lamium purpureum
Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2010-March-19Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60
1/13f/16 ISO200
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
90mm (135 equiv) Flash: Yes
The narrow corolla tube of Purple Deadnettle gives way to 2 lips, the lower one purple-spotted and the upper hood-like one hairy, both inside and out.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Lamium purpureum
Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2010-March-19Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60
1/15f/8 ISO200
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
90mm (135 equiv)
Purple Deadnettle - Lamium purpureum - is usually found with many plants in an area.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Lamium purpureum
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Lamium purpureum initially published on USWildflowers.com 2010-03-20; Updated 2015-06-25

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