Consider-the-Lilies Web Gallery
Purple Deadnettle
This is a common spring wildflower, which although native to Asia and Europe is well established across North America.
Also known as Red Deadnettle, it often blooms before other flowers and thus provides an early source of nectar for hungry insects.
It supposedly looks something like the spiny leaved nettle, but it does not sting, thus the common name.
It is a member of the Mint family. The botanical suffix, purpureum, is for the purple-pink flowers that grace the upper part of the plants.
These images were taken in April when a number of spring "lilies" first began to appear.
In bloom at the same time (left) were the delicate blue flowers of the even earlier flowering Corn Speedwell.
Go to the Main Directory to consider more lilies of the field.