How to Grow Lamium -- Garden Chronicle

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Lamium, commonly called spotted dead nettle, is a demur low-growing evergreen in mild climates. Its silvery mottled leaves and trailing stems can highlight shaded beds and walkway edges. Clusters of pink, white, or yellow miniature snapdragon-like flowers give spotted dead nettle extra appeal.

The genus from which spotted dead nettle comes includes some nasty weeds including stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), but spotted dead nettle is safe to touch (hence the name “dead nettle”) and make a showy hanging plant indoors or out.

The Lamium genus is a member of the Mint family. Lamium are easy to grow. They are propagated by division and seed. Some varieties are easily naturalized.

The spotted dead-nettle Lamium maculatum blooming in spring — The spotted dead-nettle *Lamium maculatum* blooming in spring

Table of Contents

Get to know Lamium

Plant type: Perennial groundcover
Growing Zones and range: Zones 3-9
Hardiness: Hardy
Height and width: 8 to 12 inches (20-30cm) tall, 12 to 24 inches (30-61cm) wide
Flowers: Pink and purple blooms
Bloom time: Spring through summer
Uses: Plant in shady spots, under trees
Common name: Spotted dead nettle
Botanical name: Lamium maculatum and species
Family: Lamiaceae
Origin: Woodlands of Europe and Asia and widespread in the Mediterranean

Where to plant Lamium

Plant Lamium in full sun, especially in Zones 3-5, but prefers shade.
Grow Lamium in humus-rich, moist soil.

Spotted dead-nettle (latin. Lamium maculatum) — Spotted dead-nettle (latin. *Lamium maculatum*)

When to plant Lamium

Set Lamium in the garden in spring or fall.
Sow seeds in containers in a cold frame in autumn or spring.

Planting and spacing Lamium

Space Lamium 12 to 24 inches apart. Plant several plants for the best effect.
Sow seeds 1/8 inch deep in evenly prepared soil or in a well-drained potting mix if starting seeds indoors.

How to water and feed Lamium

Keep the soil evenly moist for Lamium; ample water is needed in full sun. Established dead nettle can tolerate drought.
Lamium will benefit from occasional fertilizing.

Lamium care

Cut back Lamium by one-third after blooming to keep plants from becoming rangy.
Divide Lamium in spring or fall.
Slugs, leaf, spot, and root rot can be a problem.

Lamium pests and diseases

Lamium is susceptible to downy mildew, powdery mildew, and leaf spot diseases.
Slugs and snails will attack Lamium.

Lamium propagation

Divide Lamium in spring or autumn.
Sow seeds in containers in autumn or early spring.
Take stem cuttings of non-flowering shoots in early spring.

Silvery white with green edges leaves of Lamium maculatum

Lamium varieties to grow

Lamium armenum: slow-growing, non-invasive, mat-forming perennial; solitary, long-tubed and hooded, pale pink to white flowers.
L. galeobodolon: very invasive. stoloniferous perennial with erect creeping stems with spikes of whorled yellow flowers; cultivars include ‘Silver Angel’ and ‘Florentium’.
L. garganicum: clump-forming with upright stems; upright spikes of pale pink flowers.
L. maculatum: the most popular variety; low-growing perennials with ascending steam; heart-shaped leaves are silvery-white; bears whorled red-purple sometimes white or pink flowers; cultivars include: ‘Beacon Silver’ has pale pink blooms and very silvery leaves; ‘White Nancy’ has white flowers and silvery leaves; ‘Pink Pewter’ has pink flowers; ‘Chequers’ has purplish flowers and silver-centered green leaves.
L. orvala: non-invasive, clump-forming perennial with spikes of pinkish-purple flowers.

Lamium maculatum — Spotted dead nettle

Lamium maculatum is a vigorous, sprawling ground cover. It is a shade-loving plant with green, heart-shaped, scallop-edged leaves striped with white down their centers. Cultivars of this species are showier, displaying large silver blotches or an overall golden color. Lamium bears whorls of rosy lavender or white hooded flowers above the leaves on short spikes. The plant blooms from mid-spring through summer.

Size: 8 inches to 1 foot tall, spreads to 1 ½ feet.
Light: Full to part shade.
Soil and moisture: Average to humus-rich, moist soil; plentiful moisture best, especially in sunny spots. Tolerates dry shade.
Planting and propagation: Plant bare-root or container-grown plants in spring, spacing 1 to 2 feet apart. Divide in fall. Take stem cutting in summer.
Special care: Cut back in midsummer if plants become straggly. May smother small woodland flowers.
Pest and diseases: Slugs and leaf spot or root rot can occur. Bare spots result if plants repeatedly dry out.
Climate: Zones 3-8.
Cultivar and similar species: ‘Chequers,’ resembles the species with white-striped leaves; ‘White Nancy,’ white flowers, silver leaves edged green; ‘Beacon Silver,’ rose lavender flowers, silver leaves edged green; ‘Pink Pewter,’ pale pink flowers, silvery leaves; ‘Shell Pink,’ pale pink flowers, green-and-white leaves; ‘Beedham’s White,’ white flowers, soft yellow white-veined leaves; L. m. aureum, pink flowers, soft yellow leaves with white veins; Lamiastrum galeobdolon: yellow flowers, invasive, Zones 4-9, evergreen in Zones 7-9; ‘Herman’s Pride,’ narrow, silver-market leaves, less aggressive.
Garden use: Ground cover for shade gardens. Combines well with tulips, hostas, ferns, and tall shade perennials.