Northwest Blooms · Groundcovers
Lamium maculatum ‘Beacon Silver’
Beacon Silver Spotted Deadnettle
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Height
- 6 to 8 inches
- Width
- 12 to 24 inches, spreads as a groundcover
- Flower color
- Pink to purple
- Foliage color
- Silvery-white with green edges
- Bloom time
- Late spring to early summer, with sporadic blooming throughout the season
- Light
- Partial shade to full shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low; trim to control spread and deadhead to encourage more blooms
- Growing zone
- USDA Zones 3 to 8
- Wildlife
- Attracts bees and other pollinators
About this plant
Lamium maculatum 'Beacon Silver' is a ground-covering perennial known for its distinctive silver leaves with dark green edges, creating a beautiful contrast that brightens shaded areas of the garden. The foliage has a shimmering, metallic quality that adds texture and interest even when the plant is not in bloom. From late spring through summer, 'Beacon Silver' produces clusters of small, tubular pink or purple flowers, which complement the silvery foliage and attract pollinators such as bees.
Originating in Europe, 'Beacon Silver' has become popular for its ability to thrive in low-light areas, making it ideal for woodland gardens, shady borders, or underplanting around trees and shrubs. Its creeping habit makes it an excellent choice for ground cover, providing both ornamental value and practicalbuse in filling in bare spots or controlling erosion in difficult planting areas.
Works well in
Woodland Gardens · Under Trees · Containers · Borders
Companion plants
Cyclamens · Trilliums · Bergenias · Fuchsias · Hellebores · Blechnums
Design tip
Repeat generous drifts of this silvery foliage beneath trees and along shaded borders to brighten darker garden spaces. Combine contrasting leaf shapes, evergreen structure, and layered woodland companions to create visual depth, rhythm, and a cohesive planting design.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Oregon Garden.
