Lamium Maculatum
Lamium maculatum, also known as "spotted dead-nettle", is a hardy, spreading perennial ideal for covering ground in shaded areas of the garden. Valued for its decorative foliage and long-lasting blooms, this undemanding plant is perfect for underplanting trees, edging pathways, or adding texture and colour to woodland-style borders. It’s a reliable performer that’s easy to grow and provides interest from spring through to autumn.
Key Features
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Botanical name: Lamium maculatum
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Common name: Spotted dead-nettle
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Plant type: Herbaceous or semi-evergreen perennial
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Height: 70cm (2.3ft)
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Spread: 40cm (1.3ft)
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Attractive variegated leaves, often silver-centred with green margins
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Produces small hooded flowers in shades of pink, purple, or white depending on the variety
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Excellent ground cover for shady or partially shaded areas
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Flowering: season from April to June
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Hardy: Hardy in the UK down to temperatures of -20 degrees Celcius (RHS hardiness rating H7)
Growth & Habit
Lamium maculatum has a creeping, mat-forming habit and spreads by rooting stems that trail along the ground. The foliage remains attractive for much of the year, often semi-evergreen in milder regions. It forms a dense carpet that helps to suppress weeds and is especially effective in difficult, shady areas where many other plants may struggle.
Planting Advice
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Position: Thrives in partial to full shade. Ideal for shady borders, under shrubs or trees, and along the north side of walls or fences.
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Potted: grown in pots can be planted at any time of the year providing the ground is not frozen or waterlogged
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Soil: Prefers moist, well-drained soil but is adaptable to a range of soil types. It tolerates clay, loam, and sandy soils, provided they are not waterlogged.
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Planting Depth: Plant at the same level it was growing in its pot, keeping the crown just above soil level.
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Spacing: Space 30–45 cm apart to allow the plants to spread and form an effective ground cover.
Best planted in spring or early autumn to allow time to establish.
Care & Maintenance
Lamium maculatum is a very low-maintenance plant, making it ideal for gardeners of all levels. Once established, it requires little attention and thrives even in tricky spots.
Water during prolonged dry periods, particularly in the first year after planting. Once mature, it is relatively drought-tolerant. A mulch of leaf mould or compost in spring helps to conserve moisture and improve soil condition.
Pruning Advice
After flowering, plants can be cut back to encourage fresh foliage cover.
Uses in the Garden
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Excellent ground cover for difficult shady areas
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Suitable for woodland gardens, informal borders, and wildlife-friendly planting
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Ideal for underplanting roses, shrubs, or deciduous trees
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Combines well with hostas, ferns, brunnera, and pulmonaria
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Can be grown in containers for shady patios or balconies
If you’re looking for a tough yet attractive plant to brighten up shady corners and out-compete weeds, Lamium maculatum is an excellent choice. Its long flowering season, handsome foliage, and minimal care needs make it a go-to ground cover for everyday gardeners seeking beauty and practicality in equal measure.
Buying Perennials from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we lightly trim back our perennials after flowering and trim them back at the end of the season to ensure that the plants remain neat and tidy whilst in the pot. The more tender the plant the less we cut back to help protect exposed stems from winter frost. Depending on the plant variety we will then prune back further in spring once the risk of the more severe frosts is over.
As a result, depending on the time of year you buy perennials, they may not look like images showing their ‘prime time’ in flower and looking at their best.
From late autumn onwards and dependent on variety, there may be very little visible above the soil except for a few cut back dormant leaves or stems. It is perfectly normal for dormant plants to look like this from autumn onwards, they will however burst back into life in spring.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
Perennials are described and classified differently by different gardeners but all would agree that they are plants that come into flower every year from early spring to late summer, the exact time dependent on variety and most die back to ground level in autumn and winter.
As for all plants, soil preparation is time well spent. Dig over the area to be planted ensuring that the ground is free draining. If not then you may wish to either consider planting in a different spot or raising the level of the planting area by adding additional topsoil, well rotted garden compost and/or well rotted manure. Add ‘Fish, Blood and Bone’ fertiliser or a high potash fertiliser to encourage good root growth and development.
It’s always a good idea to plant a few of the same plant together, we recommend planting in 3’s or 5’s to provide a bold effect but allowing them plenty of room to develop.
Always check eventual plant heights when planning borders to ensure that the taller plants are at the back (or at the centre of an island bed) followed by the medium and then smaller low growing plants.
Remember to deadhead perennials after flowering, trim back lightly in autumn as required to tidy the border and if necessary trim again in spring once the risk of heavy frost has passed.
If perennials get too big, start to flower less and less or if it seems to be dying off from the centre, consider dividing the plant but always check that the particular variety is happy to be divided and that you divide at the right time of year for the plant.
By using this simple guide and a little time, perennials can make an absolutely spectacular difference to your garden.
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