Purple Dragon Spotted Dead Nettle

Purple Dragon is a vigorous, low groundcover with silvery leaves edged in green and rich purple flowers. Its patent describes a mature plant about 6 inches tall and 3 feet wide, flowering from late spring through fall; Darwin Perennials lists 4–8 inches tall and 12–14 inches wide, while the RHS gives a broader 0.5–1 m spread. The US plant patent is PP15,890, granted in 2005. ## Garden use Plant it in part or full shade as a spreading layer beneath taller perennials, or let the stems trail over a retaining edge. The [Darwin Perennials plant page](https://www.darwinperennials.com/products/Details/?phid=036800863011128) describes early-spring and spring bloom and shade exposure. The [patent record](https://patents.google.com/patent/USPP15890P3/en) documents the cultivar’s silver-and-green foliage, purple flowers, and larger mature spread; the [RHS profile](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/189437/lamium-maculatum-purple-dragon/details) recommends full or partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. Allow space for stems to root and expand. ## Maintenance Water while plants establish and during extended dry weather. Remove stems that advance into smaller plants or beyond the bed edge, and trim back old growth when needed to renew the foliage.