Red Deadnettle

Also known as Purple Dead-Nettle, Purple Archangel

Red deadnettle is one of the earliest herbaceous plants to awaken in late winter, carpeting disturbed soil with soft, four-angled stems and upper foliage flushed with reddish-purple pigment. Dense whorls of hooded, pinkish-purple flowers provide a vital early nectar and pollen resource for emerging bumblebee queens long before most other flora blooms. Despite visual similarities to true stinging nettles, its leaves lack urticating hairs entirely, making the plant completely harmless to touch.