Lamium

Lamium is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae, commonly known as dead-nettles. The genus comprises about 30 to 50 species native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, with many members having been introduced elsewhere as ornamentals. Lamium plants are herbaceous and can be annuals or perennials.

Characteristics include square stems and opposite leaves, often hairy and sometimes variegated. Flowers are produced in dense whorls or spikes in the leaf axils, with bilabiate corollas that come in colors such as purple, pink, white, or yellow, depending on the species. Bloom time is typically spring to summer.

Habitat and cultivation: Lamium species are popular in shade gardens and used as ground covers in moist, well-drained soils. They tolerate a range of light conditions but prefer partial shade. They spread by creeping rhizomes and stolons and can be aggressive, sometimes becoming invasive in suitable environments. Numerous cultivars exist, particularly of Lamium maculatum, including variegated forms such as ‘White Nancy’ and ‘Hermann’s Pride’.

Notable species include Lamium maculatum (spotted dead-nettle), Lamium galeobdolon (yellow archangel), Lamium purpureum (purple dead-nettle), and Lamium amplexicaule (henbit dead-nettle).

Uses and ecology: Lamium plants are primarily grown for ornamental foliage and ground cover, with flowers that attract pollinators such as bees. In some regions, certain species have naturalized or escaped cultivation and may be considered weeds. Some Lamium species have a history of use in traditional herbal medicine, but scientific evidence is limited and they should be used with caution.