Dead nettle is an herbaceous, spreading perennial in the Lamiaceae (mint) family that grows rapidly up to nearly 2 feet in height and width. This plant blooms in late spring to early summer and is used as ground cover in woodland or shaded areas. This plant does well in dry shade where nothing else will grow. Stems root when they touch the ground, meaning this plant can become aggressive and weedy if not contained. This plant is tolerant of drought, prefers full shade to partial shade, and is intolerant of full sun. Pruning to 6" will keep it from getting leggy. It is propagated by division in spring or by terminal spring cuttings. Plants should be spaced 12-18" apart. L. galeobdolon 'Variegatum', a cultivar, has . Quick ID Hints: Herbaceous ground cover with ovate, toothed, or notched leaves Opposite silver leaves have green edges or are entirely green Yellow flowers are hooded and 2-lipped, lower lip is 3-lobes Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant is relatively disease free, but snails and slugs may be a problem. This plant can be quite weedy and spread aggressively through runners. In the western part of the country this plant is listed as invasive, so alternatives should be considered.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Very Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Creeping
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Oblong; Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Leaves are opposite, simple, ovate to orbicular, obtuse to acute, rotund to cordate, crenate-dentate, and 3' long. The medium green leaves are covered with numerous hairs, have toothed edges, and are aromatic when crushed.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Flowers have 2-10 petals. They are yellow, hooded, and double-lipped. Corolla is yellow and flecked brown and 2-lipped. Upper lips are hooded, while lower lips are spreading. They are 3-lobed, and less than 1" in size. Calyx is tubular and has 5 teeth. They bloom in late spring. Inflorescence is cymes in false whorls that can be axillary or terminal.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Stem detail
Stems are erect to creeping, occasionally stoloniferous, 4-angles, and white-pubescent.