Shell Pink Spotted Dead Nettle
Lamium maculatum 'Shell Pink'
Height: 8 inches
Spread: 24 inches
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 2
Other Names: Deadnettle, Creeping Lamium
Description:
Forms a spreading patch of small heart-shaped green leaves with a white stripe down the middle. The clusters of snapdragon-like flowers are a pleasing shade of light pink. An eye-catching groundcover. Good under roses or shrubs.
Ornamental Features
Shell Pink Spotted Dead Nettle has masses of beautiful spikes of shell pink flowers rising above the foliage from mid spring to early fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. Its attractive oval leaves remain forest green in color with prominent silver stripes throughout the season.
Landscape Attributes
Shell Pink Spotted Dead Nettle is a dense herbaceous perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.
This is a high maintenance plant that will require regular care and upkeep, and can be pruned at anytime. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
- Spreading
Shell Pink Spotted Dead Nettle is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Mass Planting
- Border Edging
- Groundcover
- Container Planting
Planting & Growing
Shell Pink Spotted Dead Nettle will grow to be about 8 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!
This plant does best in partial shade to full shade. Keep it well away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It is an amazingly adaptable plant, tolerating both dry conditions and even some standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in both summer and winter to conserve soil moisture and protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.
Shell Pink Spotted Dead Nettle is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
