Purple Dragon Spotted Dead Nettle
Best vibrant groundcover for shaded garden areas.
The Purple Dragon Spotted Dead Nettle, Lamium maculatum 'Purple Dragon', offers striking foliage and vibrant flowers. Its bright silver leaves are edged with dark green, creating a beautiful contrast. Deep magenta-purple, snapdragon-like flowers appear in late spring and continue intermittently through fall. This outstanding selection forms a spreading patch, making it an excellent groundcover. It is fairly tolerant of dry shade once established and thrives in zones 2-9. This plant is ideal for adding color and texture to shady garden areas or containers.
$19.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.5
/ 5
Category Rank
2057
/ 3076
#2057 in Landscaping & Garden Plants
Price vs Category Average
-28%
Below average
Height
68
/ - Inches
Who it's for
- Gardeners desiring visually captivating, colorful foliage for shaded landscapes
- Homeowners seeking low-effort, natural weed control for their garden beds
- Beginners or time-constrained individuals wanting resilient, easy-to-grow shade plants
Who should skip it
- Gardeners with limited space or those preferring non-invasive, well-behaved plants
- Enthusiasts prioritizing prolonged, showy floral displays over consistent foliage color
- Property owners in areas with significant deer or rabbit pressure
Key Specs
Height
6-8 Inches
Zone
2-9
Blooms
Late spring
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Full Shade
Plant Type
Perennial
Drought Tolerant
Yes
Growth Rate
Moderate
Attracts Pollinators
Yes
Features
- Striking silver and green foliage
- Vibrant deep purple flowers
- Spreading groundcover habit
- Tolerant of dry shade
- Low maintenance requirements
- Drought tolerant once established
- Suitable for containers
What customers say
Customers consistently praise the Purple Dragon Spotted Dead Nettle for its striking visual appeal and remarkable hardiness. Reviewers frequently highlight how effortlessly this plant transforms shaded garden spots with its vibrant purple and silver foliage, creating a lush, colorful groundcover. Its ability to thrive with minimal care, even in challenging conditions, is a recurring theme, making it a reliable choice for adding consistent beauty to landscapes. Many appreciate its robust growth and the rich texture it brings to their outdoor spaces, noting its excellent performance throughout the season.
Know before you buy
Yes, this plant thrives in full shade to partial sun. It is an excellent choice for brightening up darker corners of your garden where other flowering plants might struggle.
Lamium maculatum has a moderate growth rate. It forms a spreading patch over time, making it a reliable groundcover, but it is not considered aggressively invasive.
It is drought tolerant once established, meaning it can handle dry shade better than many other perennials. However, you should provide regular water during its first growing season to help it develop a strong root system.
Absolutely. Its trailing habit makes it a beautiful choice for containers or hanging baskets, where it can spill over the edges while providing consistent color from late spring through fall.
It is a low-maintenance perennial. Aside from initial watering and occasional trimming if it spreads beyond your desired boundaries, it requires very little intervention to stay healthy.
Purple Dragon is highly cold-hardy and thrives in zones 2-9. It is built to withstand harsh winter conditions and will return reliably each spring.
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$20