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Key characteristics

Family: Lamiaceae
Height: 12 to 24 inches
Width: 24 to 36 inches, spreads aggressively
Flower color: Yellow
Foliage color: Green with silvery markings
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
Light: Partial shade to full shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low to moderate; can become invasive, so trimming or containment may be necessary
Growing zone: USDA Zones 4 to 9
Wildlife: Attracts bees and other pollinators

Groundcovers

Lamium galeobdolon

Golden Deadnettle

Lamium galeobdolon, commonly known as Golden Deadnettle, is a vigorous perennial appreciated for its striking variegated foliage and cheerful yellow flowers. The plant's leaves are typically dark green with silvery markings, adding texture and brightness to shaded or woodland gardens. Its bright yellow, hooded flowers bloom in late spring to early summer, forming in clusters along the stems and providing a lively contrast against the foliage.

Light

Partial shade to full shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Late spring to early summer

Find this plant

Works well in

Woodland Gardens
Under Trees
Slopes & Banks
Borders

Companion plants

Cyclamens · Aucuba · Bergenias · Fuchsias · Hellebores · Blechnums

Design tip

Plant broad sweeps of this variegated groundcover beneath trees or across shaded slopes where the foliage can illuminate darker spaces. Pair it with bold evergreen forms, upright accents, and layered woodland textures to create depth, rhythm, and a natural sense of enclosure.