Purple Dead Nettle, Lamium purpureum, is another very-low-growing plant that flowers in early Spring.
Characteristics of purple dead nettle include the fact that it is one of the first creeping plants to start growing in Spring. Passing by the plant one can look down and miss the flowers that are tucked under the foliage on erect stems.
Looking down on purple dead nettle you can totally miss the flowers!
The toothed, opposite leaves are somewhat rounded and have a crinkly appearance due to heavy leaf veining. Leaves have longer stalks when found lower on the stem.
Upper leaves hide the lavender flowers that sprout from leaf axils.
Flowers of purple dead nettle are irregular in shape with two lobes on the lower lip. Light lavender or lilac-colored blossoms have spots or lines of purple.
Irregular in shape the purple dead nettle flowers are lilac in color.
Speaking of lilacs, the lilac trees have broken out their winter buds.
You can see how the lilac bud’s tough exterior protected the newly formed greenery.
I don’t remember if these lilacs were purple or white-flowered varieties. Since being transplanted a couple of years ago neither has bloomed, so I hope this year that one of the lilacs will surprise us.
