One of the earliest spring flowers, sometimes blooming in the middle of the winter if there’s an extended warm spell, the Purple Archangel or Purple Dead-Nettle is everywhere. It is happy in open city lawns, and just as happy along a woodland trail in Bird Park, where we photographed these plants. The most decorative aspect of the plant is the contrast between the pale flowers and the dark leaves at the top of the stem; but the colors of the leaves are variable, and many plants show no significant purplishness at the top.

For a description of the species, see the Lamium purpureum reference page.

Also known as Purple Dead-Nettle, on account of a fancied resemblance of the stingless leaves to the leaves of stinging nettles. This little member of the mint family can bloom in literally any month of the year in Pittsburgh, but it puts on its best show in the early spring, when the pretty pink flowers are accented by the purple new leaves at the top of the stalk. The plants can grow almost anywhere; these were growing out of a sidewalk crack in Beechview.

For a detailed description, see the Lamium purpureum reference page.

Also known as Purple Dead-Nettle, because the hairy roundish leaves reminded someone of nettles that don’t sting. This tiny flower is one of the first to appear in the spring, or even in the middle of winter if it gets a warm spell. It continues to bloom for most of the season, and it adds the very decorative touch of deep purple leaves to set off the lighter pinkish-purple flowers.

For a more thorough description, see the Lamium purpureum reference page.