Lamium

( LAY - mee - um )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus, commonly called Deadnettle, includes perennial and annual species of flowering plants are native from Europe to western Asia. They need partial to full shade to perform well and regular waterings to perform well in the garden. They form clumps that cover the ground and foliage is green in most species. Flower clusters can be pink, white or yellow. They are evergreen plants in mild-winter climates, and can be grown as annuals in cooler zones. Lamium plants can be used to brighten shady areas, as underplantings for taller perennials, or as groundcover.

Lamium Species and Varietals

The genus Lamium is the type genus member of the plant family Lamiaceae, and includes between 30 and 50 distinct species. Plants in the genus are closely related to those in the Mint, Sage, Lavender, Coleus, Basil, and Oregano genera. The best growing zones for Lamium vary depending on the species. For more information, see the species descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Lamium galeobdolon (Lamiastrum galeobdolon) (Dead Nettle, Yellow Archangel)
This species is a perennial grown in USDA hardiness zones 4a-9b or Sunset growing zones 2-11 and 14-24. This is a trailing plant that has round to heart-shaped leaves and blooms with yellow flowers in late spring. Varieties include 'Hermann's Pride' (forms clumps 2 feet tall and wide, with tapered leaves spotted and marked with white) and Lamium galeobdolon montanum 'Florentinum' (also called Lamium galeobdolon 'Variegatum', with trailing stems that root where they touch ground and green leaves marbled with silver grey). This species can become weedy, and is considered invasive in in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, and East Coast of the United States as well as British Colombia.

Lamium maculatum (Dead Nettle, Spotted Nettle, Spotted Dead Nettle, Spotted Henbit)
This species grows well in USDA hardiness zones 4-8 or Sunset growing zones A2, A3, 1-11 and 14-24. It reaches 8 inches tall and spreads to 3 feet wide at maturity. Leaves are green with a central white coloring, and flowers are pink or white, blooming in late spring to early summer. All of the varieties of this species make great groundcovers for shaded spots, and are useful in hanging baskets and mixed containers. This species is considered invasive in the Midwest and Northeast regions of the United States.

'Anne Greenaway'
Green leaves edged in yellow, with silver stripes down the centers. Flowers are pink.

'Aureum'
Foliage is golden-green and marked with silver in the center. Flowers are pink. Variety 'Lemon Frost' is similar; it has lime green leaves with a white center line.

'Beacon Silver'
Flowers are pink. Leaves are silver grey and edged with green. Similar leaf-color varieties include 'Orchid Frost', 'Purple Dragon', 'Red Nancy', and 'White Nancy'.

'Chequers'
Flowers are pink in this variety, which has green leaves with a white central stripe.

'Pink Pewter'
Leaves are silver and edged with green-grey. Flowers are pink.

Caring for Lamium

Plant Lamiums in full shade to dappled sun; ideally they should be getting between 2 and 4 hours of sun each day. Choose a space in the landscape that can handle some light spreading activity. They prefer soil to be rich, well-draining, and have a pH of between 5.5 and 7.5 (acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Add a layer of organic compost to the planting area to suppress weed growth, increase soil moisture retention, and maintain soil temperatures. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system. At maturity, they are considered somewhat drought-tolerant, and thrive with light waterings. As a general rule of thumb, water when the top two to three inches of soil feels dry. Do not overwater Lamium plants, as this can cause root rot issues to take hold.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with a application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Prune to remove spent flowers, which will encourage more blooms to emerge as well as discourage reseeding, which can lead to flowers escaping from their garden spaces. Dividing plants every three to four years is recommended for best plant health. For instructions on how to divide these plants, see the Propagation section below. In areas with cool winters, cut the plant all the way back to the base and cover with a few inches of mulch to protect roots from freezing temperatures. These herbaceous perennial plants typically live for between 3 and 10 or more years in the landscape before needing to be replaced. These plants re-seed freely and also spread via creeping stems, which will provide new plants for the garden indefinitely.

Caring for Lamium in Containers
Lamium plants are wonderful in the ground, but can also be grown in containers. Choose a container that is at least a few inches wider and deeper than the nursery pot or root ball. Ensure that the pot has adequate drainage holes on the bottom to allow for excess water to flow away. Fill with a well-draining potting mix amended with organic material and perlite, and top with a layer of mulch to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water regularly as the plant establishes itself in its new home. Once established, waterings can be lessened. Lamium plants grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch. Prune to remove dead, damaged, or diseased foliage at any time during the growing season. Every few years, check the bottom of the pot to ensure that the plant is not outgrowing its root space. If roots are growing through the drainage holes in the bottom of the container, it is a good indication that it needs to be potted up; choose a slightly larger container and repot.

Propagation

Lamium can be propagated either by division, cutting or seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division or cutting methods. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Lamium plant, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Lamium by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In late summer or early fall, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that the plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances the cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6-8 inch softwood or semi-hardwood portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. It should be kept in warm, sunny conditions in a protected area. Water whenever the soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, the cutting should be rooted. New growth indicates the formation of roots.
Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when the seedling can be hardened off and then planted outdoors.

Propagating Lamium by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 1-4 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Lamium by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil, compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.

Problems and Pests

Certain species are considered invasive in some regions; see the species descriptions above for more information. Check with local authorities before planting. Lamium plants can be susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape: