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Lamium album

white deadnettle

Lamiaceae Europe and temperate Asia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 3–8

Overview

Lamium album is a rhizomatous perennial in the mint family, growing 8-24 inches (20-60 cm) tall on square, slightly hairy stems. The opposite leaves are heart-shaped to triangular, 1.5-3 inches (4-8 cm) long, with coarsely toothed margins and a wrinkled surface that closely resembles those of the stinging nettle, though they have no sting. From spring into autumn, whorls of white, two-lipped, hooded flowers about 0.6-1 inch (1.5-2.5 cm) long cluster in the leaf axils up the stem. The hooded upper lip shelters the pollen, and long-tongued bumblebees are the main pollinators. The plant spreads by creeping rhizomes and seed to form patches along hedgerows, roadsides, and waste ground. Native to Europe and temperate Asia, it has naturalized in North America and other temperate regions. It tolerates a wide range of soils and partial shade, and stays green into mild winters. Because it spreads by rhizome, it can move beyond where it is wanted, and the nettle-like foliage is sometimes mistaken for the true stinging nettle before it flowers.

Native Range

Native to Europe and temperate Asia, in hedgerows, roadsides, woodland edges, and disturbed ground. It has naturalized across much of North America and other temperate areas.

Suggested Uses

Grown as groundcover in wild and woodland gardens, along hedge bases, and in pollinator plantings for bumblebees. It fills shaded, rough ground where more delicate plants struggle. Young leaves and shoots are edible cooked, much like spinach.

How to Identify

Recognized by square stems, opposite nettle-like leaves that do not sting, and whorls of white hooded flowers in the leaf axils. The flowers have a hooded upper lip and a lobed lower lip typical of the mint family. Before flowering it can be told from stinging nettle by its lack of stinging hairs and its more triangular, blunt-toothed leaves.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height8" - 2'

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~20 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Blooms over a long period from spring into autumn, generally April through September. Whorls of white flowers open in the leaf axils and draw bumblebees and other long-tongued insects. Flowering continues in flushes as new shoots extend through the season.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

Green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Requires 3-6 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay

Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

Reaches full size in 1-2 seasons

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in part shade to full sun in most moist, fertile soils with a pH around 6.0 to 7.5. Tolerates dry shade once established but grows more strongly with steady moisture. Spreads by rhizomes to form patches, so it suits informal areas rather than tidy borders. Needs little care and is rarely affected by pests or disease. Cutting back after the first flush of bloom holds growth dense and can bring a second flush.

Pruning

Shear or cut back plants after the main spring bloom to refresh the foliage and encourage repeat flowering. Remove or divide spreading clumps in spring or autumn to control their size. No other pruning is required.

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic