Lamium maculatum, commonly known as spotted deadnettle, is known for its rapid growth and ability to spread quickly, which has led to it being considered invasive in some areas. It’s native to Europe and western Asia but has naturalized in many parts of North America.
This plant thrives in a variety of conditions, from full sun to shade, and it’s drought-tolerant once established. Its robust nature means it can quickly cover an area, outcompeting other plants for resources. It spreads by both seeds and stems that root at the nodes, allowing it to quickly colonize a broad area.
In some parts of the United States, such as the Midwest and Northeast, it’s often planted as a ground cover due to its attractive flowers and foliage. However, its aggressive growth habit can lead to it escaping cultivation and spreading into natural areas, where it can potentially outcompete native plants.
Lamium maculatum is listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.
According to the U.S Forest Service, Invasive species have contributed to the decline of 42% of U.S. endangered and threatened species and for 18% of U.S. endangered or threatened species. Invasive species compete directly with native species for moisture, sunlight, nutrients, and space. They displace and alter native plant communities, degrade wildlife habitat and water quality, and potentially lead to increased soil erosion.
The federal government has estimated that nearly 25 percent of the 20,000 plant species native to North America are at risk of extinction, many of these through habitat loss. You can help reverse this trend by planting great native plants in your garden.
A plant is considered native if it occurs naturally in a particular region or ecosystem without human introduction. There are many benefits in growing native plants. First, these plants are better adapted to soils, moisture, and weather than exotic plants that evolved in other parts of the world. They need fewer fertilizers and pesticides or use less water. Second, they are unlikely to escape and become invasive, destroying natural habitats. Third, they support wildlife, providing shelter and food for native birds and insects, while exotic plants do not.
| Hardiness |
3 - 8 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 8 |
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A2, A3 |
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Genus | Lamium |
| Exposure | Partial Sun, Shade |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall |
| Native Plants | United States |
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| Hardiness |
3 - 8 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 8 |
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A2, A3 |
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Genus | Lamium |
| Exposure | Partial Sun, Shade |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall |
| Native Plants | United States |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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