Spotted Deadnettle

Spotted Deadnettle
Lamium maculatum 'Anne Greenway'

I can remember when I first started

working in garden centres

how I disliked these plants . . . .

. . . . my how our tastes change !

I have become quite a fan of

Spotted Deadnettles

(and what a name - very hemlock and mandrakes)

A robust, low maintenance perennial 

that is a shade loving ground cover.

Silver strips on a lime green leaf 

topped with delicate lilac flowers 

shaped much like a bugloss (Ajuga spp.).

Growing only 7cm tall on flowering with trailing foliage,

it is well suited to hanging baskets 

and spreading through the cooler garden areas 

where sunlight is not strong.

A single plant will easily spread across a shaded 

or dappled light area 

to about 30 - 60cm. 

I tend to give that as a SINGLE plant measure, 

but as this type of groundcover 

will put down new roots at leaf sections, 

each plant will occupy a new space.

Striped leaves peculiar to "Anne Greenway"

Don't panic, 

it will be burnt off in full strong Aussie Summer sun, 

an aggressive hard frost, 

or suffer trampling set back. 

And also responds very well 

to your favourite gardening herbicide 

(unlike periwinkle) 

if it gets a little enthusiastic !

Suitable for more fertile soils, 

but will grow slowly on heavier soils. 

Waterlogged soils will lead to plants rotting. 

And dry soils will also not support successful growth.

potted plant in the nursery