Lamium 'Beacon Silver'

Lamium 'Beacon Silver': Silver Glow for Dry, Dark Corners

Silver leaves with a thin green edge, shining out of the dark like a lighthouse for lost gardeners. 'Beacon Silver' handles dry shade, and THE DEER AND RABBITS JUST SAIL ON BY.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Lamium maculatum 'Beacon Silver'
• Common Name: Spotted Dead Nettle
• Height: 15–20 cm (6–8 in)
• Spread: 30–60 cm (12–24 in)
• Flowers: Small, hooded pink to pinkish-mauve flowers in short clusters
• Bloom Time: Late spring to midsummer (May to July), with a few flowers later in the season
• Foliage: Silver leaves with a narrow green margin, forming a low, dense mat
• Features: Rabbit resistant, tolerates dry shade once established

Where to Plant: Use it as a ground cover under trees and shrubs, along a shady path, at the front of a woodland border, or spilling over the edge of a shady container. The silver leaves brighten dark corners. It roots as it spreads, so give it room, and keep it out of natural woodland where it could wander.

Companion Plants: Let 'Beacon Silver' carpet a moist, shady bed with white astilbe, bronze rodgersia and a gold-edged hosta. Hosta 'Rainforest Sunrise' adds glossy gold leaves edged in green at 25 to 30 cm. Astilbe 'Bridal Veil' brings pure white plumes at 70 cm in July. Rodgersia 'Bronze Peacock' adds bronze, chestnut-like leaves at 55 cm. Hakonechloa macra fills in at 30 to 45 cm with bright green, cascading blades.

Plant Care: Plant in part sun to full shade in average, well-drained soil with some organic matter. It handles clay or sandy soil but sulks in soggy or compacted ground. Water regularly through the first season. After that it tolerates dry spells, though it looks best with an occasional drink in a hot summer. Hot afternoon sun can scorch the silver leaves. If the patch looks tired by midsummer, shear it back and it will flush out with fresh foliage. Tidy up any winter damage in early spring. Stems root where they touch the soil, so you can lift and move rooted pieces, or divide clumps, in spring or early fall.

History: 'Beacon Silver' turned up in a customer's garden and was passed along to the English plantswoman Beth Chatto, who introduced it in 1976, and it's also sold as 'Silbergroschen'. The species is native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia, and the name dead nettle refers to leaves that look like a stinging nettle's but have no sting.

Final Thoughts: Plant it under trees where nothing else wants to grow. The bees will find it. YOUR DARK CORNER JUST GOT A NIGHT LIGHT.