Lamium Plant Growing & Care Guide for Gardeners
Article by Dean Ravenscroft, Ph.D. - Updated 25th Nov 2023
In this Gardener's HQ guide, we'll explore cultivating Lamium plants in your garden, indoor spaces, and other settings.
- Plant Characteristics: Lamium is notable for its vibrant flowers in shades of pink, purple, or white and its attractive, variegated foliage. This ground cover plant is excellent for brightening up shady areas in the garden.
- Ideal Growing Conditions: Prefers partial to full shade and well-drained soil. Adaptable to various soil types and moisture levels, making it versatile for different garden settings.
- General Care: Low maintenance, requires regular watering and occasional pruning to keep it neat and encourage denser growth.
- Tips for New Gardeners: Dead Nettle is an excellent choice for beginners, and is especially useful for shaded or semi-shaded areas. Its easy care and spreading habit make it a hassle-free option for covering bare spots.
Dead Nettle, Henbit: Cultivation & Garden Use
Members of the Lamium plant genus that are grown in the garden are usually done so for their beautiful foliage.
Lamium plants are hardy perennials.
In addition to some specifically grown garden plants, the genus contains many members that are considered weeds by many. However, these can make great plants for wild-life gardens as Lamium plants are known to readily attract bees to the garden.
The leaves of garden grown Lamium species are often silver.
Plants carry flowers that look similar to those of Snapdragon.
These typically bloom from the end of spring until the start of summer.
Lamium purpureum by Blumenbiene.
Commonly Grown Lamium Species
Lamium maculatum
Lamium maculatum (Spotted Dead-nettle / Spotted Henbit / Purple Dragon), photograph by Manuel m. v.; CC.
Lamium purpureum
Lamium purpureum (Red dead-nettle / Purple Dead Nettle / Purple Archangel), photograph by Andreas Rockstein; CC.
Lamium amplexicaule
Lamium amplexicaule (Common Henbit / Greater Henbit), photograph by Andreas Rockstein; CC.
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Lamium Growing and Care Guide
Common Names: Dead Nettle, Cobbler’s Bench, Greater Henbit, Yellow Archangel.Scientific names: Lamium maculatum; Lamium purpureum; Lamium amplexicaule; Lamium galeobdolon.
Family: Lamiaceae.
Life Cycle: Hardy perennial. Hardy Annual.
Height: 2 to 36 inches (5 to 90 cm).
Native: Europe, Asia, North Africa.
Growing Region: Zones 3 to 8.
Flowers: Year round.
Flower Details: White, purple, yellow. Spikes. Whorls. Hood-like petals. Snapdragon-like.
Foliage: Herbaceous. Silver, white, green. Variegated. Broad. Nettle-like.
Sow Outside: Cover seed. Spring for most species; autumn for yellow species. Spacing 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 cm).
Sow Inside: Germination time: one to two months. Temperature: 65 to 70°F (18 to 21°C). Nine or ten weeks in advance. Transplant outdoors following in spring or autumn.
Requirements and care: Full sunlight or partial shade. Good drainage. Poor soil. Provide a spring feed. Tidy up by shearing once flowering has completed. Protect from slugs. Propagate: by dividing or by taking root cuttings in the spring.
Miscellaneous: Invasive plant in many areas. The Lamium purpureum species can flower in mild winters and is often a source of nectar for bees at this time of year. Gets the name dead nettle due to the similarity of leaves to those of nettles; it does not possess stinging hairs.
How to Grow Dead Nettle and other Lamium Plant Species
The time that you sow the seeds of Lamium is dependent upon the species that you are growing: Yellow ones should be sown in autumn; purple or white species should be sown in the spring.
Once sown, lightly cover seeds with topsoil.
They can be grown in either a sunny or partially shaded part of the garden. It is important that the soil has good drainage. Dead Nettle and other Lamium members prefer to grow in a poor soil.
When starting off Lamium indoors, they should be started off about 10 weeks before due to be out out in the garden.
They take from one to two months to germinate at 17 to 21 degrees centigrade (63 to 70°F).
The young Lamium plants should be put out in either the spring or autumn.
Caring for Lamium in the Garden
Members of the Lamium genus are weedy in nature. So if you are growing them in the garden you should be prepared to keep an eye on them to stop them taking over the garden.
They should be fertilized in the spring. Once the flowering season is over they should be cut back.
If you require more Dead nettle plants, then either take root cuttings or divide them in the spring.
Common Questions
How many members does the Lamium genus have?
The Lamium genus consists of about 40-50 species. These are usually shade-loving plants, often used as ground cover in gardens.
Do members of Lamium make a good garden or landscaping plant?
Yes, Lamium species, with their variegated foliage and attractive flowers, make excellent ground cover plants for shady areas in gardens.
Which Lamium species are most frequently grown by gardeners?
Lamium maculatum (Spotted Deadnettle) is commonly grown for its variegated foliage and clusters of pink or white flowers.
Are members of the Lamium plant genus fragrant?
While Lamium plants are not particularly known for fragrance, they are appreciated for their visual appeal, especially their variegated leaves.
What is the perfect location to grow Lamium?
Lamium is perfect for shady to partly sunny locations with well-drained soil. It's a great choice for underplanting in woodland or shaded gardens.
Is Lamium invasive in the USA, if so in which states?
Currently, some species like Lamium purpureum (Purple Deadnettle) can become invasive in certain regions of the USA due to their spreading habit.
How do I remove Lamium plants from my garden?
To remove Lamium, dig up the plants, ensuring all roots are removed. Regular monitoring may be needed as they can regrow from left-behind roots.
Summary
The Lamium plant genus is a part of the Lamiaceae family. It includes perennial plants native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Known for their variegated leaves and hooded flowers, these plants are commonly used as ground cover for shady parts of a garden.
The Lamium plant prefers an area with partial to full shade. The soil should be well-drained. Regular watering is necessary for the best growth. Propagation is done through seeds or division, generally in spring or fall.
I hope that you found this guide on how to grow Lamium plants in your garden. You may also enjoy my gardening guides on how to grow Russian sage, Perilla plant, and lavandula angustifolia plants.
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