Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Observe the amount of light the plant receives throughout the day.
- Check the stems for signs of stretching or pale color.
- Inspect the base of the plant for old, woody growth.
Likely causes
Insufficient light
Most likelyHow to tell: The stems are long and thin with large gaps between the leaves.
What to do: Move the plant to a spot with brighter, indirect light. If it is in deep shade, try thinning out nearby branches to let more light reach the foliage.
Lack of pruning
PossibleHow to tell: The plant looks overgrown and woody at the base.
What to do: Trim back the stems by one third to encourage bushier growth. Do this in midsummer to keep the plant tidy and compact.
Find out what's wrong with your spotted dead-nettle
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
It is normal for the plant to stretch slightly as the season ends. Worry if the stems are so weak they cannot support their own weight.
Stopping it coming back
Prune your deadnettle back after its first flush of flowers to maintain a dense, mounded shape.
Spotted dead-nettle: leggy growth? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your spotted dead-nettle and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
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Questions people ask
- Can I grow this in full sun?
- No, Pink Splash prefers partial to full shade. Too much sun will burn the leaves and cause the plant to wilt.
- Will pinching the tips help?
- Yes, pinching the growing tips regularly encourages the plant to branch out and grow thicker.
More problems with Spotted dead-nettle
- What are these spots on my Pink Splash leaves?
- Why is my Pink Splash deadnettle drooping?
- Why are there holes in my Lamium maculatum leaves?
- Why are my Lamium maculatum leaves turning yellow?
- Why are the tips of my Lamium leaves turning brown?
- Why is my Lamium maculatum suffering from root rot?
- Why are my Lamium maculatum leaves curling?
Back to the Spotted dead-nettle guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.