White dead-nettle.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Herbaceous perennial

Light

Partial shade to full sun

Indoor light

Bright indirect

Water

Every 3 to 7 days

Mature size

0.5 to 0.8 meters

Growth rate

Fast

Hardiness

USDA 3 to 9

Bloom time

Mid spring to early autumn

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged to help it thrive. Watch for wilting if the soil dries out too much, and trim back stems if it starts spreading too aggressively. It's a vigorous grower that handles most garden conditions well.

Watering

Water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Feeding

Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.

Pruning

Cut back stems after flowering to encourage a second flush of growth.

Repotting

Move to a larger container once the roots fill the current pot.

Soil

Moist, fertile, well drained soil

Soil pH

Neutral to slightly alkaline

Temperature

-30 to 30°C

Humidity

40 to 70%

Drought tolerance

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years.

Deer and rabbits

Moderate

Safety

People

This plant is generally considered non toxic to humans.

Children

There are no specific safety concerns for children, though the stems can be slightly rough to the touch.

Contact allergens

The foliage can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals due to fine hairs.

Airborne allergens

The pollen is not a significant cause of respiratory allergies.

Edibility

While young leaves are sometimes used in salads, they can be bitter and should be harvested before flowering.

How to identify it

• Square stems typical of mint family
• Opposite leaves with serrated edges
• White hooded flowers in leaf axils
• Soft hairs covering the foliage

Height

0.2 to 0.6m

Spread

0.3 to 0.9m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

white, 1 to 3cm

Common problems

• Powdery mildew — A white fungal growth on leaves often caused by poor air circulation or dry soil.
• Aphids — Small sap sucking insects that cluster on new growth.

Growing it

Propagation

division, seed, cuttings

When to plant

spring, autumn

Overwintering

The foliage may die back in cold winters, but the roots remain hardy. Simply clear away dead debris in early spring to make room for new growth.

In containers

It grows well in containers, but use a large pot to prevent it from drying out too quickly.

Plant it under shrubs to suppress weeds, but be ready to trim it back if it gets too enthusiastic.

Grows well with

• Hosta — They share similar shade and moisture requirements.
• Ferns — The textures contrast beautifully in a woodland setting.

Similar species

• Purple Dead Nettle — A smaller, annual relative with purple flowers.

Science

Family

Lamiaceae

Genus

Lamium

Order

Lamiales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Europe and western Asia.

Conservation

It is a common and widespread species with no conservation concerns.

It thrives in disturbed soils and woodland edges where it can spread rapidly through rhizomes.

Value to wildlife

early nectar source, ground cover habitat

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Uses

ground cover, pollinator garden, woodland edge, edible greens

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it invasive?

It can be aggressive in ideal conditions, so keep an eye on it in small beds.

Does it need full sun?

It prefers partial shade but will tolerate full sun if the soil stays moist.

Where the name comes from

The name Lamium comes from the Greek word for throat, referring to the shape of the flower, while album means white.

Good to know

• It is often called white dead nettle because it looks like a stinging nettle but lacks the sting.
• The flowers are a favorite of long tongued bees.
• It spreads quickly via underground runners.
• It has been used in traditional herbal medicine for centuries.