Purple Dragon Dead Nettle
Lamium maculatum ‘Purple Dragon’
Description
Brighten up the darkest corners of your garden with Purple Dragon—a fast-spreading, shade-loving groundcover that delivers both color and function. Its striking silver-white foliage edged in green creates a luminous carpet, while vivid magenta-purple, snapdragon-like blooms rise above the leaves in late spring.
Tough enough for dry shade and beautiful enough for containers, this low-growing perennial is a go-to for filling in tricky spaces where other plants struggle.
Care Tips
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Light: Partial shade to full shade
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Water: Average; drought-tolerant once established
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Soil: Well-drained soil; adaptable to a range of conditions
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Maintenance: Low; trim as needed to control spread and refresh growth
Landscape Uses
- Excellent groundcover for shade and dry areas
- Perfect for underplanting shrubs and trees
- Great for edging pathways and borders
- Beautiful spilling from containers and hanging baskets
Plant Details
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Mature Size: 4–8" tall x 12–24" wide
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Sun Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Shade
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Bloom Time: Late Spring to Early Summer (may rebloom)
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Flower Color: Deep magenta-purple
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Foliage: Silver-white with green margins
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Hardiness Zones: 3–8
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Habit: Low, spreading groundcover
Garden Value
- Deer resistant
- Suppresses weeds with dense coverage
- Thrives in challenging dry shade conditions
- Adds contrast and brightness without needing flowers
Why We Love It
Few plants can handle dry shade and still look this good. Purple Dragon is a hardworking groundcover that brings light, color, and texture to spaces that need it most.
