Lamium maculatum Shell Pink - Spotted Deadnettle

The Lamium maculatum 'Shell Pink' is a decorative variety of spotted deadnettle, which forms compact and dense mats adorned with short spikes of light pink flowers in spring. Its highly decorative evergreen foliage is composed of small green leaves adorned with a silver band on either side of the central vein. This perennial ground cover is easy to cultivate and prefers shade. A beautiful addition to perennial borders, rock gardens, and shaded borders. It also thrives in pots.

'Maculatum' means 'spot' in Latin. Therefore, Lamium maculatum is also called spotted or variegated deadnettle. They share a distinctive feature: bicolor foliage. The leaves are small, semi-evergreen under certain climates, and measure 2 to 3 cm (1in) in length. They are more or less triangular, pubescent, toothed, and wavy, forming a complete carpet that covers the stems. The stems are long, prostrate, slightly raised at the 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 upper lip finely hairy, and another lower lip, highlighting the plant's membership in the large family of Lamiaceae. Their silhouette is reminiscent of nettle flowers. The name 'Lamium' comes from the Greek and evokes a throat or gaping mouth.

Deadnettles always make charming ground covers. They require no maintenance (except if the foliage has dried up) and are perfect at the base of a bush. However, their variety of colours, their reasonable and manageable growth (20 cm (8in) tall and a maximum spread of 100 cm (39in)) allows you to integrate them at the front of borders, in ribbons or in small touches, thus varying the foliage and placing them in front of Heuchera or perennial geraniums.

Lamium maculatum 'Shell Pink' pairs well with its shade companions: hepaticas, hostas, Arum, Heuchera 'Georgia Plum', and Japanese Anemone 'Bressingham Glow'. All textures are there to create a harmonious border. However, in a semi-shaded rock garden, at the base of a wall, it also fits among creeping perennials like bugleweed, adding brightness to neglected corners.