Botanical Name: Lamium maculatum ‘Purple Dragon’

Common Name: Dead Nettle

Hardiness Zone: Perennial in USDA Zones 4–9

Mature Size: 6–8" Tall × 18–24" Spread

Growth Habit: Low-Growing, Creeping, Mat-Forming Groundcover

Sunlight: Partial Shade to Full Shade (tolerates some morning sun)

Soil: Well-Drained Soil; Adaptable to Most Garden Soils

Water Needs: Moderate; Drought Tolerant Once Established

Bloom Season: Spring to Early Summer

Fertilizer: Minimal; Avoid Excess Fertility

Features: Shade Tolerant, Deer Resistant, Fast Spreading, Pollinator Friendly

Uses: Groundcover, Shade Borders, Under Trees, Woodland Gardens, Slopes

Patent: ❌ Not Patented

Propagation: ✔ Propagation Allowed

Lamium ‘Purple Dragon’ is one of the most visually striking Dead Nettle varieties, valued for its rich purple flowers and darker foliage highlighted with silver veining. The blooms are larger and more saturated than those of most Lamium varieties, creating a strong spring display that stands out even in deeper shade. Its low, creeping growth habit allows it to spread quickly and knit together into a dense groundcover, making it highly effective for covering bare soil. Once established, it remains attractive with minimal care and tolerates a wide range of garden conditions.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trials, Purple Dragon consistently distinguished itself by how fast and evenly it fills space. It establishes quicker than the Nancy series and delivers a heavier bloom flush each spring. We especially like it for larger shade areas, slopes, and underplantings where speed, coverage, and bold color matter more than refined subtlety.

Purple Dragon vs. Other Lamium Varieties

Purple Dragon is more assertive in both growth rate and visual presence compared to Lamium Red Nancy and White Nancy. Its flowers are deeper in color and more dramatic, while the foliage carries a darker tone with less overall silver. The Nancy varieties feel brighter and more polished, whereas Purple Dragon leans bold and expressive, making it better suited to naturalistic or informal plantings.

When compared to Golden Anniversary, Purple Dragon delivers contrast through flowering rather than foliage color. Golden Anniversary relies on chartreuse leaves to brighten shade year-round, while Purple Dragon shines most during its spring bloom period. Purple Dragon also spreads more aggressively, making it ideal for fast coverage, while Golden Anniversary offers a slightly more restrained habit for mixed shade borders.