# Spotted deadnettle (*Lamium maculatum*) The Spotted Deadnettle is a pretty plant with purple flowers and green leaves that have white spots. It grows close to the ground and loves to be in shady places like gardens and forests. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Spotted deadnettle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lamium_maculatum_cm01.jpg&width=800) Photo: Tomasz Kuran aka Meteor2017, CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lamium_maculatum_cm01.jpg) ## Appearance The Spotted deadnettle has distinctive square stems and heart-shaped leaves often marked with a silvery stripe down the middle. Its small, hooded, pinkish-purple flowers grow in whorls around the stem, resembling a stinging nettle but without the sting. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Lamiaceae - **Genus:** Lamium ## Interesting facts - It can grow a brand new plant from just a small piece of its stem! - Its stems are square, not round like most plants, making it unique to touch! - Some people call it 'pretty nettle' because its silvery leaves are so decorative! - The tiny seeds have a tasty fatty treat that ants love, helping them spread! ## Special abilities - **No Sting Shield:** Spotted deadnettle has soft, non-stinging leaves, a clever mimicry to deter herbivores who avoid stinging nettles. - **Carpet Creator:** Spotted deadnettle can rapidly spread by stems that root where they touch the ground, forming dense ground cover. - **Early Nectar Bar:** Spotted deadnettle blooms early in spring, providing crucial nectar and pollen for hungry pollinators when other food is scarce. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-30 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from its early flowers. - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Feeds on its nectar, easily reaching into its hooded flowers. - **Depends on:** European Red Ant (*Myrmica rubra*) — Carries seeds away for the nutritious elaiosome, aiding dispersal. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Spotted deadnettle? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Spotted deadnettle? 15-30 cm ### How wide does Spotted deadnettle spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Spotted deadnettle? 1-2 cm ### When does Spotted deadnettle bloom? Spring ### Is Spotted deadnettle edible? Yes ### Is Spotted deadnettle toxic? None ### What is Spotted deadnettle's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Red River Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/red-river-zoo) — North Dakota, US · Zoo - [Boston-Edison Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/boston-edison-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Hudson Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hudson-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [New Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/new-center) — Michigan, US · Neighborhood - [Oregon Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/oregon-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Spotted deadnettle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/spotted-deadnettle) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Spotted deadnettle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-deadnettle)