The two best types of Lamium are Lamium maculatum and the Lamium galeobdolon ‘Herman’s Pride’ Maculatum
Lamium Maculatum
The silvery leaves of Lamium maculatum form a light reflecting mat in a shady garden while easily overcoming the challenges of a low light area.
Lamium groundcovers are the right choice for High Mountain, shady gardens. They are tough and their easy-going adaptability to a wide variety of rocky slopes, clay, and alkaline soils keep them comfortable in the west. Lamiums also prefer a drier setting, and are cold-resistant and deer-resistant, other reasons for incorporating them into the garden. Lamium’s aggressive tendencies are not a problem for it grows slower and sturdier in mountain gardens. The cooler gardens of these high valleys is an invitation for Lamium to thrive even in sunnier garden sites.
In spring, the groundcover’s lips fuse, forming a single throat, thus the name Lamium originates from the Greek word, lamios, meaning throat. Lamium is often called by its nickname, “dead nettle” due to its resemblance to stinging nettle but Lamiums do not sting. Flowers bloom on the upper part of the stem and are long-blooming but not every stem blooms at peak performance at the same time. Lamium maculatum stems grow at a consistent height without holes or raggedy upright stems.
Different leaf colors blend almost like a tapestry but the dark leaf with the white center stripe, Lamium, is a native perennial that has re-seeded from the pale silver foliage of the hybrid Lamium, ‘Beacon Silver.’ The original species with its green leaves and silver mid-leaf stripe are more aggressive and may overtake the silver variety. These can be weeded out but their long-bloom time, health and vigor are often the reasons that many gardeners leave them in their flowerbeds. Removing the blooms before they seed will keep the planted hybrid true to the original plant and a thicker foliage mat.
Lamium galeobdolon ‘Herman’s Pride’
‘Herman’s Pride’ is often called Laminstra or Yellow Archangel. This lovely plant was named for the Archangel Michael for it blooms on St. Michael’s day, May 8th. ‘Herman’s Pride’ is not the typical ground cover but grows in a neat and tidy mound. The foliage is variegated and the single, tubular, yellow spikes lift about a foot above the foliage mound. Yellow Archangel is an important nectar plant and is both deer and rabbit resistant. The drier the garden spot the more attractive ‘Herman’s Pride’ grows. The picture below shows Laminstra at the end of October. This gorgeous plant has maintained its perfect form and foliage all throughout the summer months.
