Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) is a cool weather weed with pretty little purple flowers

Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) is a cool weather weed with pretty little purple flowers. Lamium purpureum (Red Dead Nettle, Purple Deadnettle) is an annual weed that grows in zones 4-9 during the cool weather of spring and fall and sometimes in winter in warmer climates. Purple Deadnettle is invasive but can be easily pulled out because it has very shallow roots. Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) is in the mint family and has herbal uses (which you can Google).

However, there is an upside to pretty little plant- it blooms in later winter/early spring for the return of the bees and other pollinators which makes it an important food source. Plus once the weather heats up the plant withers and dies (but the seeds will germinate once the weather cools again).

This plant does not need the bees because the PurpleDeadnettle spreads by seeds which are self pollinated. It will take over an area and grows just about anywhere making a pretty blanket of fuzzy green leaves and purple flowers. However, the seeds can germinate at any time making this a plant that can be hard to eradicate. This is not a native plant and it is often confused with Henbit.

I personally just go around pulling Purple Deadnettle out of my garden and yard. It is so easy to pull out that I do not spray for it because the seeds are not destroyed by sprays (that requires a pre-emergent). I know battling weeds in the lawn and garden can be gruesome but sometimes weeds are not a bad thing especially in the spring when nature needs a little boost.

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