Lamium

These hardy perennials, also known as Deadnettles, are natives of the woods and meadows of Europe and North Africa to West Asia. Many of this group are weeds, but some of these plants make good ground covers, growing from 6 inches to a foot high with a 1- to 3-foot spread. L. maculatum variety White Nancy forms mats of silvery pale green, oval leaves and small, 2-lipped, snow-white flowers. These are produced in clusters from late spring to summer. L. maculatum has oval, green leaves marked with a central white stripe. The mauve pink flowers are 2-lipped and borne in clusters in mid-spring. L. orvala forms mounds of oval to diamond-shaped, mid-green leaves that are sometimes marked with a central white stripe. Its flowers are pink or purple and borne in late spring and early summer.

Pot Cultivation

These plants can be grown in ordinary soil that is cool and moist, but well drained. They do not like too much winter moisture. They may be planted in full or partial shade.

Propagation

These plants may be increased by seed or division in early spring or fall, or by stem cuttings of non-flowering shoots in mid-summer.