Lamium maculatum Roseum - Spotted Deadnettle

Lamium maculatum 'Roseum' is an elegant variety of spotted deadnettle, which quickly forms compact and dense mats adorned with short spikes of rose-purple lilac flowers from late spring to early summer. Its silver-spotted foliage is evergreen depending on the severity of winter. It perfectly brightens shaded areas of the garden. This creeping perennial is easily grown in cool shade. A beautiful addition to perennial borders, rock gardens, and shaded borders. It also thrives in pots.

"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 leaves, which are semi-evergreen in certain climates. They are 2 to 3cm (1in) long. They are more or less triangular, hairy, toothed, and wavy, forming a complete carpet, and covering the stems that bear them. These stems are long and prostrate, but slightly raised at their ends 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 finely hairy upper lip and another lower lip), highlighting the plant's affiliation with the large Lamiaceae family. Their silhouette is reminiscent of nettle flowers. The name "Lamium" actually comes from Greek and refers to 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 'Roseum' pairs well with other shade-loving plants: hepaticas, hostas, Arum, Heuchera 'Georgia Plum', and 'Bressingham Glow' Japanese anemone. The mixture of textures creates a harmonious border. 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.