Light
Grow spotted dead nettles in full to partial shade.
They are one of thebest perennials for shade.
Soil
drop in the plants in acidic, well-drained, loamy soil.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
If your soil has a lot of clay, add compost to improve drainage.
Water
Spotted dead nettles tolerate even shady areas that have dry soil.
This ground cover requires very little care at all if planted in full shade.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Types of Spotted Dead Nettle
There are also severalcultivarsof theL.
Stinging nettles also grow quite tall.
maculatum, rendering it harmless.
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Pruning
Spotted dead nettles should be pruned in the summer after the first blooming period.
Cutting the stems with cleanprunerswill stimulate new growth.
Any solid green leaves should be snipped out.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Otherwise, the plant will lose the variegated leaves and become all green.
These plants spread out, and you’re free to keep them under control by pruning, too.
Spotted dead nettles propagate easily by themselves from runners, by dividing, or from cuttings.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Keep in mind that smaller containers will require watering more often.
Plant it with an assortment of flowering plants, including paperwhites, cyclamen, and coral bells.
Whatever you decide to mix it with, remember to select plants that need partial to full shade.
When repotting, hold your hand over the soil base and plant.
Turn the pot upside down.
Gently tap the bottom to loosen the plant.
Overwintering
This plant is deciduous in areas with colder weather but stays semi-evergreen in other regions.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Spotted dead nettles have few problems in northern regions.
Among other good features, they are deer-resistant plants.
In the South, however, they may develop problems withleaf spottingand downy mildew due to the high humidity.
Provide extra spacing between plants to lessen these fungal problems.
Some types bloom throughout the entire growing season.
How Long Does Spotted Dead Nettle Bloom?
Blooms typically last about six weeks.
However, the plant may bloom from April to November in optimal climate conditions.
Pruning after the first bloom can spur reblooming.
What Do Spotted Dead Nettle Flowers Look and Smell Like?
They don’t have a discernible scent.
How to Encourage More Blooms
Pruning after the first bloom should produce a second set of flowers.
Deadheading will encourage more blooms.
Common Problems With Spotted Dead Nettle
Spotted dead nettle is a low-maintenance and easy plant to grow.
It’s a shade-happy plant, so climate and sun conditions can adversely affect these plants.
During these times, the plant needs more water.
These deer-resistant plants are also not bothered by rabbits.
For companion plants, select other shade-lovers.
Being creepers and having a tendency to spread, theseclassic cottage-garden plantsare popular flowering ground covers for shady spots.
The silvery foliage of these shade plants makes them a good fit for landscape designs withcreative color schemes.
Salehi, Bahare et al.Lamium Plants-A Comprehensive Review on Health Benefits and Biological Activities.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) vol.
2019, doi.org/10.3390%2Fmolecules24101913
Spotted deadnettle.
Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.
