is lamium a good ground cover? is lamium a good ground cover?

Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon 'Hermann's Pride', Zones 4-8) is one of the fastest-growing ground covers. Bloom time begins sooner, of course, after a mild winter, since plants do not have to regrow. Need an easy evergreen carpet to plant where no grass dare grow? Both their flowers and their foliage make an impact on the landscape. Put lamium next to other plants with darker foliage so this ground cover can bring out those colors. It can cover large areas if you let it, so take care to find a place where its spreading tendency will be welcomed. If the hill is big, remove the grass in stages so as not to take unnecessary chances with erosion. With very attractive foliage and either white or pink flowers, Lamium maculatum makes an excellent ground cover plant for a shaded position. Pachysandra is one of the most widely used ground covers in the country thanks to its extreme durability while it grows under challenging conditions such as too much shade and drought. The spotted dead nettle plant is listed as invasive in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States and is located mainly in the upper eastern states. An evergreen perennial native to North America, heuchera is known for its vibrant foliage, which ranges in color from silver to green to brown. 1 most stressful city for U.S. workers, Texas tornados destroy homes, leave 300,000 without power, Willie Nelson's new album is a lovely tribute to a fellow country legend, Turner: TEA is giving Houston ISD two optionsclose school or be taken over, Two ocelots were photographed crossing a road in rare South Texas sighting. Key Dead-nettle facts Name - Lamium maculatum Family - Lamiaceae Type - perennial Height - 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) Exposure - full sun to shade Soil - rich and well drained Foliage - deciduous The beauty of this easy-care perennial ground cover is that it's deer-resistant which means flowers may be trampled, but not typically eaten. Push the bare part of the branch into the soil at the desired location and water. Ice plant is a fast and easy-growing ground covering, but pick the right species for your climate. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. Creeping Phlox. Lamium is evergreen from Zone 6 south. 7. The plant dies back to the ground in the winter and comes out in the spring, but giving it a good shearing before winter will help keep the plants healthy. Well to make a long stroy short the Lamium is gone and in its place we planted a very small ground cover called Tiny Thyme. Are ticket costs pricing Houston Astros fans out of Opening Day? This easy-care ground cover provides colors of purple, white pink and shades of light red. They can spread across bare ground, suppressing weeds and dust, preventing erosion, decreasing water evaporation, and adding color. The soft moss-like foliage of this plant forms a dense mat underfoot. In shade, its OK if the soil dries out now and then. A particularly vigorous variety, Walkers Low, was The Perennial Plant Associations plant of the year in 2007. Although not as attractive to cats as catnip (Nepeta cataria), catmint is a gardeners dream: an easy-to-grow, robust purple ground cover. They save their energy for the surprisingly large flowers, white on desert zinnia and yellow on prairie zinnia. These deer-resistant plants are not bothered by rabbits either. Plant number: 1.305.190. Its off the menu for deer and rabbits, but a feast for pollinating bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Type above and press Enter to search. When not in bloom, the heart-shaped, dark green leaves with purplish undersides make an attractive deer and rabbit resistant ground cover. This plant works as a ground cover, a border plant or even a houseplant in a hanging basket. As with yellow alyssum, Angelina sedum can be regarded as a "Goldilocks" ground cover. Ground cover plants are the perfect solution for a variety of landscaping issues. Cutting the stems or pinching back to a joint will stimulate new growth for the plant. And while deer might not like itspink flowers, they do attract butterflies and honeybeesits even believed that it enhances the flavor of the honey. But its attractive variegated foliage spreads out to two or three times its height. Angelina Sedum is easy to propagate by rooting, so you can quickly fill an area with its succulent foliage. Ice plant is a perennial succulent ground cover with fleshy leaves and colorful flowers. The promise is that Lamiums are fast-growing perennial ground cover or container plants that brighten partly sunny spots and produce charming flowers. Hailing all the way from Siberia, this cold-hardy evergreen has fern-like foliage that turns a pretty bronzy color in colder climates. 1. Creeping Raspberry is a wonderful and attractive ground cover that is naturally hardy, resilient, and adaptable. Some of these ground covers will grow in sun and others in shade; all will put on growth quickly. Lamium will grow under tree canopies and fill in around taller perennials, tolerating some dryness from the roots of other plants, but it grows better with irrigation. Clusters of rose-pink flowers appear in spring, then continue off and on until fall, appearing more reliably through summer than other varieties. 25 Low-Maintenance Ground Cover Plants for Sun and Shade, 10 Best Plants for Erosion Control in Your Yard, How to Grow and Care for Canadian Hemlock Trees, How to Grow and Care for Emerald Gaiety Wintercreeper, 35 Common Weeds in Lawns and Gardens: Identification & Control, How to Grow and Care for Dusty Miller (Silver Dust), Forget-Me-Not: Plant Care, Growing Tips, and Symbolism, 30 Best Plants With Purple Flowers to Grow Outdoors, Purple Dragon: Purplish flowers and silver foliage, White Nancy: White flowers, silvery leaves, Beedham's White: White flowers, leaves chartreuse and white, Cannon's Gold: Pink flowers, chartreuse foliage, Orchid Frost: Pink-purple flowers; leaves silver in the center andgreen at the edge; known for its disease-resistance, Anne Greenway: Mauve flowers; green,chartreuse, and silver leaves, Aureum: Pink flowers; leaves golden on the edge, white in the center, Ghost: Light-purple flowers; leaves almost wholly silver; taller (up to 14 inches) than the typical. Good For: Plant Hardiness Zones 3-10 SHOP DEAD NETTLE SEEDS skymoon13 // Getty Images Advertisement - Continue Reading Below 10 Creeping Phlox A member of the mint family, Lamium spreads quickly, is self-seeding, and will rapidly create a ground cover wherever it is planted. While this perennial spreads rapidly, you can mow it to regain control. Getting Started Willie Nelson pays lovely tribute to another country legend, Mayor: HISD has two optionsclose school or be taken over, Rare photos show 2 ocelots crossing South Texas road. Straight from your grandma's garden, Dianthus is an old-fashioned perennial with a vanilla-like scent. Fix your gardens trouble spots with these low-growing perennials, annuals, and shrubs. Choose native common yarrow. Theywill not require much waterwhen grown in full shade, a fact that (along with their resistance to deer pests) recommends them to homeowners seeking low-maintenance landscaping. To encourage new growth in the springtime cut spotted dead nettles back after the first frost or in the late autumn, depending on where you live. Look for varieties like Ghost that are heavily silvered and really brighten up lightly to densely shaded spaces. Though this is considered a flowering ground cover, it's tiny white flowers are quite insignificant. spotted deadnettle (Lamium maculatum L.) is a perennial flowering ornamental commonly grown as a landscape plant for an adequate ground cover.. Much like the fictional character, it has golden hair (flowers) that spread enough to be effective in covering a certain amount of space, but the plant is not so vigorous a spreader to create a nuisance. which is great for using as a ground cover in large fields and gardens. Plant ivy in the spring and you won't need to maintain it at all. Hardy in USDA Zones 3 through 8, it will be deciduous in all but the mildest climates. This is a slow-growing and long-lasting ground cover that simply needs pruning every so often to prevent it from growing leggy. It has basic requirements and is well worth cultivating in your garden. English ivy is considered an evergreen perennial covering, period. Snip some for cooking, or keep it trimmed back to manage its height. Hortster. Although rich, moist, acidic soils are ideal, this plant will also grow in alkaline, sandy and clay soils. She has spent over two decades working in the horticulture industry on new plant development, garden design, sales, marketing and consulting. Excellent evergreen ground cover for shadeThe North American native speciesPachysandra procumbensis harder to find but a more graceful and less spready choiceGrows 6 to 10 inches 15-25 cm tall. In milder climates, it is semi-evergreen. Although strawberry begonia is winter hardy in USDA Zones 7 through 9, some people in Zone 6b have reportedly had luck with it overwintering, too. Creeping thyme. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Going to google creeping jenny. If you set out a little nursery-grown pot of Lamium in spring. Sweet woodruff foliage can be dried and used in wreaths, potpourri, and other craft creations. Press Esc to cancel. Select a branch and cut it off the plant. (I prefer to call it lamium), Lamium . Although not a U.S. native and with the potential to choke out nearby wildflowers, lithodora is not listed as an invasive concern. Lamium is a versatile plant, hardy in U.S.D.A. Plant them with an assortment of other flowering plants in a container garden to have sitting on your porch and lanai, or they trail beautifully from a hanging basket. Lamium is in the mint family (Lamiaceae), which provides a hint as to its toughness. When grown as a ground cover, it is an easy-care plant that requires little maintenance. Ivy is invasive and toxic to humans and animals but the charm it can lend to a yard can't be beat. This easy-to-grow plant spreads and produces numerous offspring from seed. Botanical Name: Cotoneaster horizontalis This tall ground cover has a horizontal growing habit, give it plenty of water and afternoon shade until it is fully grown. Spotted dead nettles will naturalize in some areas. Hedera helix. Epimedium, also called Bishops Cap, can tolerate dry conditions once established. The name "Dead Nettle" refers to the fact that Lamium does not have the stinging hair characteristic of other nettles. Lamium needs shade and a fertile, moist but well-draining soil. This lesser-known perennial has attractive little mounds of grassy foliage, and teeny ball-shaped blooms that pop up in late spring to early summer. In ideal sunny conditions, Amethyst in Snow will spread quite quickly, but you can control it easily by pulling out stray shoots. It got its name from the way its red stems spread like strawberry plants do, and how its rounded, dark green leaves with white veins and maroon undersides resemble a begonia. And, of course, you can snip off the leaves for cooking. She is married to photographer John Everett and they have one son. Creeping thyme (also known as mother of thyme or wild thyme) is a creeping, woody-stemmed perennial that is a favorite plant to use for a low-maintenance ground cover serving as a filler between garden stepping stones. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. RELATED: 25 Plants That Survive With or Without You. Lamium (Deadnettle) Wonderful as ground cover in a shady area, Spotted deadnettle ( Lamium maculatum) can cover large areas quickly, prevailing in the most unforgiving of conditions. White Nancy jparkers USDA Zones:3-9 The low-maintenance plant thrives year-round, rewarding you with delicate blooms in spring and summer. Note: This plant is considered invasive across much of the northeast, some areas of the northern Midwest, and parts of the Pacific Northwest. Its fascinating to watch in the spring as its semi-evergreen foliage emerges bronze, then brightens to fresh green and covers up the previous years growth. Choose from an annual or perennial variety, and watch charming daisy-like flowers bloom throughout this bushy plant. This easy-care mat-forming ground cover provides pops of purple blooms from mid-spring to early summer. Ground covers are used to provide edgings to pathways, control erosion, and add interest to landscape design. Compost should be sufficient, as the plants do not require rich soil. It gets its name because light reflects off its hairy growths and sparkles on the landscape. Try some honeysuckle! Deer are usually not interested, leaving more for you to enjoy for your garden and fresh bouquets. Oak sedge prefers partial shade to full shade in USDA Zones 3 through 8. While it may be one of the toughest (er, tolerant) plants out there, Lily of the Valley looks as sweet as can be with darling white bells dangling from strappy green leaves. This native ground cover is as useful as it is pretty, acting as the larval host of the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly and as a weed suppressing ground cover. In the right climate, brass buttons remain an evergreen ground cover year round. It likes part to full sun. Its native habitat is wooded areas, so it is perfect for a shady woodland garden. The Ground Cover Dogwood blooms then produces edible berries. Spotted dead nettles should be pruned in the summer after the first blooming period. Shes passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves. Our native white wood aster (Aster divaricatus), which grows in USDA Zones 3 through 8, spreads underground and by seed to form dense colonies even in dry shade conditions. You could first try it in a small area container to see how it does in your garden. Most of my dl have been in the ground at least 6 months, so I'm guessing they are well established enough for a ground cover. It spreads by seed, but not aggressively, making its way around the garden in light shade to full shade conditions in USDA Zones 3 through 8. Its aromatic grayish-green foliage spreads easily, and lavender-blue flowers rise on stalks from spring through fall. English Ivy. This vining plant, also known as dead nettles, can tolerate cold, heat, and drought, and its deer resistant. Few ground covers ever look as beautiful as creeping phlox in spring, when it produces an explosion of fragrant, star-shaped, pastel-colored flowers. Check your plants regularly and if slugs or snails are present, handpick and dispose of them as they appear. Lamium is evergreen from Zone 6 south. Catmint can handle several types of soil as well as both humidity and drought, and its also deer and rabbit resistant. Plant it with an assortment of flowering plants, including paperwhites, cyclamen, and coral bells. If you are looking for something unusual, consider wall germander, a broadleaf woody-stemmed evergreen that is often massed or used as a low hedge along retaining walls or in knot gardens. RELATED: How to Grow Zinnias in Your Home Garden. In addition to making your garden look good, lithodora is a useful ally: The plant works as a natural deer repellent (the animals dislike the taste of the flowers) and helps control erosion. It has excellent resistance to damage by deer and rabbits. Within two to three years of planting, it forms a lush carpet of velvety, green, heart-shaped leaves that hug the ground. Miniature hostas will grow less than 9 inches tall, small hostas grow to a foot or more, and giant hostas can grow over 30 inches tall. A Texas Master Gardener, she's the author of The Texas Flower Garden, published by Gibbs-Smith in 1996. Many plant species from the genus Sedum are native to North America. Home Outdoors Yard & Garden Structures Planters. But in regions where spotted dead nettle is not invasive, it acts as an effective ground cover for deeply shaded areas. Cut the runner off with pruning shears, plant it in another spot, and then water. If you have bare acreage behind your home that does not lead to another property, Chinese lantern can be a great ground cover and filler. book to class, Report: Houston ranked No. plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. However, slugs and snails may be occasional visitors. Thus you need to be careful in choosing the right spot to grow this plant. The best quickly-spreading ground cover for shade is Periwinkle 'Bowles' Variety.' Keep in mind that smaller containers will require watering more often. It spreads well, but is easy to manage. The attractive foliage has a silvery cast and shows well . There are so many reasons to grow golden groundsel (Packera aurea). Creeping thyme ground cover is not invasive, helps prevent weeds from growing, and is a natural deer repellent. Spotted dead nettles are valued as perennial ground covers for the shade that will spread and fill in a patch of ground that might otherwise remain bare (except for weeds). Liverleaf (Anemone americana, formerly classified as Hepatica americana) is a perennial wildflower native to North America. Overview: Spotted Dead Nettle - Lamium maculatum is a herbaceous perennial growing to 0.2 -0.9m at a fast . Lamium A great solution for ground cover in a shaded area until it takes over in 5 years. Although taller than a typical ground cover, yarrow ranks among the most attractive ground cover flowering plants. Pruning it back can help keep rambunctious runners under control or set your mower to high and shear it back after it flowers in the summer. Mow it down once in late winter and watch the fresh green growth fill right back in. Growing to a height of about 6 inches with a spread of 9 inches, it has waxy green leaves that should be removed as they turn brown. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. At least one like petunias. The nepeta genus includes roughly 250 species. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Blooms from mid-spring through summer. Lamb's ear creates a soft and silvery dense ground covering mat in a sunny area of your property. The only real maintenance required is trimming it back after it has finished flowering, or whenever it becomes too scraggly for your tastes. One of the best fast-growing ground cover plants for full sun is flowering candytuft. There are more native species of sedge than any other plant in North America, and many make fine ground covers for shade. It does spread under the right conditions, but it is fairly easy to pull it out and keep it from taking over areas where it does not belong. Take leaves off at least half of the bottom portion of the branch. Susan Martin is a lifelong gardener who enjoys sharing her passion for plants, gardening and the business of horticulture with fellow plant enthusiasts across North America. This low-maintenance plant thrives year-round! If you prefer a similar but less aggressive variety, consider C. montana 'Amethyst Dream'. In fact, they are one of the best perennials for shade. In regions with cold winters, Lamium is deciduous. The leaves are fairly small, about one inch in diameter. What plant labels typically fail to mention is that, under the right growing conditions, 'Amethyst in Snow' makes a flowering ground cover that will spread nicely. Lamium spreads quickly, so be ready to cut it back if it begins to encroach on other shrubs and flowers. Use it as an underplanting for tall trees, as a ground cover in places where the hose cant reach, and even as a no-mow lawn alternative where there isnt much foot traffic. Lamium. This is great if you need to cover a problem area with an attractive ground cover, but not so good if you are trying to grow them in a place where you need a well-behaved plant. Lamium covers well and adds colorful flowers, foliage and texture. It's tough-as-nails once established, tolerating poor soil and drought conditions. This plant forms a ground-hugging mat topped with wispy white flowers that flutter atop 15-inch-tall stems in late spring to early summer. Add compost if you have clayey soil to improve drainage. Yellow archangel has colorful leaves and flowers. Stinging nettles also grow quite tall. Blooms are cream colored. Thats the beauty of this native spring ephemeral that goes by several names including woodland phlox, wild sweet William and Phlox divaricata. Remove any obviously rotting plants, but it grows so fast you likely won't even have to replace the plant. Mature plants that have gotten "leggy" should be cut down to just above the ground, which then will grow back into a bushy, compact plant. manure tea is a good alternative. Lamium is a fast-growing, perennial ground cover that deer and rabbits avoid. True blue flowers are rare, especially late in the season. This ground cover is a late riser, making it ideal for covering up the spent foliage of spring flowering bulbs. 100 Perennials for a Zone 3 Garden Send me the list! It grows best in morning sun and afternoon shade. Are insane ticket costs pricing Astros fans out of Opening Day? . Because the common name is often given as spotted dead nettle. chezmoose. Doesn't need much water. Ajuga ground cover doing very well in low light. Copyright 2023 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. They may be plain green, but they are usually spotted or banded in silver-gray. It flowers best in full sun. Named for the color and the shape of their flowers, brass buttons stand out perhaps most of all for their serrated, fern-like leaves. A critical bit of deadnettle plant info to be aware of, however, is . The only maintenance you'll need to do is remove tattered leaves damaged from a bad winter. Our wide range of perennial groundcovers are ideal for those spots in the garden where grass isn't wantedon banks, under trees or across large areas of the border. This plant grows vibrant purple flowers that grow against grey-green foliage from early spring through early summer. .css-lwn4i5{display:block;font-family:Neutra,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:-0.01rem;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;text-align:center;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-lwn4i5:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}9 Best Gardening Subscription Boxes 2023, 20 Best Tall Indoor Plants to Shop Online, 85 Surprising Flower Meanings With Pictures. Ajuga or Bugleweed is a low-maintenance option that is also . Creeping liriope plants make low-maintenance, tough, and drought-tolerant ground covers with spikey flowers and grass-like foliage. This plant can be invasive, depending on where you live. I put the Lamium along a side of the housewhere the soil is very thin and a lot of plants do not like to grow. Evergreen ground covers, such as creeping juniper, require little care. Hostas are definitely not deer-resistant but they are toxic to other animals. New delosperma varieties boast yellow, orange, apricot, and bicolor flowers. Hostas are some of the happiest and hardiest perennial ground coverings you can grow. It grows low to the ground, making it a good alternative to grass in just about any climate. While it prefers full sun, it needs regular moisture, especially during hot months. It's also used for ground cover to stop erosion because its tough roots hold soil in place. Bunchberry is a shade-loving deciduous shrub native to northern portions of North America. They are tough and their easy-going adaptability to a wide variety of rocky slopes, clay, and alkaline soils keep them comfortable in the west. Although it favors dry climates, this ground cover can survive in the warmer end of some humid regions. It detests hot, humid weather, but thrives where temperatures drop at night. RELATED: 10 Grass-Free Alternatives to a Traditional Lawn. Though many annual flowers can be used for ground coverings, it can be laborious to replant large swaths of coverings yearly. Plant it in full sun during the spring in cooler climates and in shadier areas during the fall in warmer regions. However, it will grow out of its boundaries so trimming it back can help if you want to keep the yard neat. A. In fact it thrives on summer drought in dry shade. Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, 25 Plants That Survive With or Without You, 14 of the Best Plants for Your Drought-Tolerant Garden, 10 Grass-Free Alternatives to a Traditional Lawn, Bad Neighbors: 11 Plant Pairs Never to Grow Side by Side. Spotted dead nettles propagate easily by themselves from runners, by dividing, or from cuttings. In agriculture, ground cover is the name given to plants that are low growing and are used to cover a large area, giving a carpeted effect. She writes a weekly garden Q&A and feature stories. As lovely a ground cover as it seems, it's also considered invasive and is toxic to pets. In summer, the leaves take on burgundy mottling on the way to becoming totally burgundy (hence the name liverleaf). Spotted Dead Nettle is an excellent ground cover plant because of its flowers and its spreading growth habit. 20 Ground Cover Plants to Fill out Your Garden, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Bright pink, purple or white flowers are a bonus that draws in bumblebees from mid-spring to early summer. 6. Plant in full shade or partial shade. Dead nettle, also known as Lamium, is a low-growing perennial with silver-splashed leaves and bursts of purple, pink, or white flowers that pop up in spring and early summer. Replant them in a suitable location, and water. Its a native to wooded areas and stream banks of the Appalachian Mountains, and easy to control. It also doesn't die back in the winter. This clumping perennial is less than a foot tall, with slender, long, arching leaves. In addition to white flowers, you can find colors like moonshine yellow, paprika, or vintage violet. Note that Lenten rose is toxic to animals. There are more than 40 species of lamium, but the best are those that are flowering perennials like the Pink Chablis. This aromatic herb can be an invasive plant when grown in moist soil, where it sometimes spreads out of control. The success of many invasive plants is due to this means of spreading. When planted in full sun it usually needs extra watering, at least until the plant is well established. We recommend our users to update the browser. The creeping juniper is a sprawling, creeping needled evergreen shrub that grows to a maximum height of about 18 inches and with a spread that can go as much as 8 feet. Spotted deadnettle. Aronia is a pretty low-growing native shrub that has tiny white flowers amid glossy green foliage. One of the most popular is Carex pensylvanica, commonly known as oak sedge, and it can be found across the eastern half of North America. Virtually disease and pest free, Spotted Dead Nettle is also deer and rabbit resistant. It should be pinched back frequently to keep the plants bushy and "shrubby.". This shrub also offers some fall-foliage value. While this glossy, strappy green is popular in the southern states, it can survive anywhere. She's been a frequent speaker at various garden events. Lamium plants are a perfect deer resistant groundcover to brighten a partly sunny to semi-shady spot. If you prefer a small hosta, opt for 'Blue Mouse Ears' that grows 6 to 12 inches high with round, heart-shaped blue-green leaves. If you've seen the lavender fields in Provence, you know this sweetly-scented perennial with purple or blue flowers looks amazing planted en masse. There is no need to apply fertilizer, encouraging them to become too robust and invasive. While it is not a spreader, it is large enough to take up space as the spring and summer months advance. A ground hugging creeper with silvered variegated foliage and some really pretty colored flowers Dead Nettles are an ideal choice for gardeners who want a tough plant with a variety of . Aromatic enough for both kitties and their owners, catmint (Nepeta) is an easy-care, low growing ground cover. In midsummer, after the blooming period is over, prune plants back by one-third to help prevent them from becoming too invasive. Plants that are under 12 inches tall are good for tight spaces and as edging but can require some weeding to look their best. `Katie' ruellia has a taller cousin commonly called Mexican petunia. In warm regions and/or insheltered areas of your yard, they may be evergreen. Reaches 3 to 9 inches tall with a spread of 6 to 12 inches. Lamium is grown for both its pretty foliage and beautiful flowers. USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7 However, creeping ground coverings tend to spread the fastest. Do spotted dead nettle attract butterflies? Choose plants that are hardy to USDA zones 2 to 4. In summer months, little spikes of blue, purple, pink or white flowers will appear.