Lamium maculatum Golden Nuggets - Spotted Deadnettle

Lamium maculatum 'Golden Nuggets' is a variety of deadnettle also known as Lamium maculatum 'Aureum', and is unique with its spectacular golden leaves with a silver central stripe! It is also distinguished by very long lasting lilac-pink flowers that adorn its mat-forming clump from May to September. This perennial enjoys moist, rich, and well-drained soils and shady exposures. It is a hardy plant that spreads rapidly, ideal as a ground cover to brighten up an understory or as a border along a dark alleyway.

"Maculatum" means "spot" in Latin. Lamium maculatum are therefore also called Spotted or Variegated Deadnettles. Indeed, they share this characteristic: a bicoloured foliage. It is made up of numerous small leaves, semi-evergreen under certain climates, 2 to 3cm (1in) long. They are more or less triangular, hairy, toothed, puckered, and form a complete carpet, covering the stems that bear them. These stems are long, prostrate, but slightly raised at their tips and spread in all directions. They bear small flowers (2cm (1in)) with a hairy calyx that surrounds the corolla tube. The corolla extends into two lips, one upper finely hairy, and another lower, highlighting the plant's belonging to the large family of Lamiaceae. Their silhouette is reminiscent of nettle flowers. The name "Lamium" actually comes from Greek and evokes a throat or an open mouth. Lamium maculatum 'Golden Nuggets' forms a mat about 20cm (8in) tall and 50cm (20in) wide.

Deadnettles always make lovely ground covers. They require no maintenance (unless the foliage has dried up) and are perfect at the foot of a bush. However, the variety of colours, their reasonable and manageable growth (20cm (8in) tall and a maximum spread of 100cm (39in)) will allow you to integrate them at the front of borders, in ribbons or in small patches, thus varying the foliage and placing them in front of Heucheras or perennial Geraniums. Lamium maculatum 'Golden Nuggets' pairs well with its shade loving companions: liverworts, hostas, Arum, and Japanese Anemone 'Bressingham Glow'. Its golden foliage also blends well with the pink and purple foliage of the Heuchera 'Georgia Plum' and creeping bugles. All textures are there to compose a harmonious border. However, in a semi-shaded rockery, at the foot of a wall, it also fits in among creeping perennials like bugles and adds brightness to neglected corners.