Lamium maculatum Purple Dragon - Spotted Deadnettle

The beautiful Lamium maculatum 'Purple Dragon' is one of the most floriferous. Its numerous small pinkish-purple flowers punctuate foliage of a remarkable colour. The semi-evergreen leaves are silver-white and marginated with green. They produce a highly appreciated luminous effect in the undergrowth. Speckled with violet from May to August, this perennial ground cover enjoys shaded or semi-shaded situations and thrives in moist, rich, and light soil.

"Maculatum" means "spot" in Latin. Lamium maculatum are also called spotted or variegated deadnettles. Indeed, they all bear bi-coloured foliage. It consists of numerous small, semi-evergreen leaves (under certain climates), 2 to 3 cm (1in) long. They are cordate, dentate, wavy, and form a complete carpet, covering the stems that bear them. These stems are long and prostrate, but slightly raised at their tip and spread in all directions. They bear small flowers (2cm (1in)) with a hairy calyx that surrounds the corolla tube. It extends into two lips: one finely hairy upper lip, and another lower. Their silhouette is reminiscent of nettle flowers. The name "Lamium" actually comes from Greek and means a throat or a gaping mouth.

Deadnettles always make delightful ground cover plants. They require no maintenance (except if the foliage dries out) and are perfect at the base of a bush. However, the variety of colours and their reasonable and manageable growth (20cm (8in) tall and a maximum spread of 100cm (39in)) means they can be integrated at the front of flower beds, in ribbons or with small touches, thus varying the foliage. Place them in front of heucheras or perennial geraniums.

Lamium maculatum 'Purple Dragon' harmonises with other shade-loving plants that fit into the same range of tones: the dwarf Honeysuckle 'Chic et Choc®', Heuchera 'Georgia Plum', and Japanese anemone 'Bressingham Glow'. The different sizes and textures create a harmonious flower bed. However, it also works well in a semi-shaded rockery, or at the foot of a wall, with creeping perennials like bugleweeds. It also adds brightness to neglected corners.