Purple Dragon Spotted Dead Nettle (Lamium maculatum 'Purple Dragon')
LAY-mee-um mak-yew-LAY-tum 'Purple Dragon'

Semi-Evergreen Perennial Low, Mat-Forming Groundcover in the Lamiaceae Family
A patented sport of classic White Nancy, with richer deep purple flowers and a wider, faster-spreading habit.

Lamium maculatum Purple Dragon is a patented cultivar (US Plant Patent PP15,890) that arose as a branch sport of the classic, unpatented White Nancy, discovered by breeder John vanSanden of Hortech Inc. in Whitefall, Michigan. Its silver-centered, green-edged leaves resemble White Nancy\u2019s, but its larger, richer deep purple flowers and wider spread -- up to 3 ft. -- set it apart. Reaching 6-8 in. tall, it forms a fast, dense mat in shaded garden beds.

Pros

  • Larger, showier deep purple flowers than most Lamium cultivars
  • Fast, wide-spreading groundcover for shade where turf and many perennials struggle
  • Low-maintenance once established

Cons

  • Spreads wider than most Lamium cultivars -- up to 3 ft. -- and may need more frequent dividing to keep in check
  • Can self-seed; seedlings do not retain the parent foliage pattern
  • Dislikes hot afternoon sun and wet, waterlogged soil
Highlights A patented branch sport of the classic White Nancy, bred for larger, richer purple flowers and a wider-spreading habit -- a bold choice for filling in shaded beds quickly.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 6 - 8 inches tall. 24 - 36 inches wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Partial Shade
Moisture Tolerance Medium : Drought-tolerant once established, but does not tolerate wet or waterlogged soil.
Zones 3a - 8b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Colorful Foliage, Container, Deer Resistant, Edging, Full Shade, Good for Accents, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rock Garden, Good for Spring Containers, Groundcover, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Medium, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Variegated Foliage, Well-Drained Soil, Wet Site Tolerant, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period Late Spring To Late Summer
Flower Color Deep Purple
Foliage Color Silver-Centered With Green Edges

Commonly Planted with...

Hosta, Fern, Brunnera, Heuchera
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 10/04
2024 : 05/16 - 10/05

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.

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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!