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Lamium purpureum (deadnettle) - for bumblebees

Big Blue SkyBig Blue Sky Posts: 716
in Plants
I have read that lamium purpureum is one of the plants most preferred by bumblebees. Apparently it flowers all summer long and doesn’t require any particular care. 
I was wondering if anybody has made any experience with this plant, in particular, I would like to know how fast it spreads.
I try to make my garden as bee friendly as possible and this plant was recommended online as one of the most useful for insects as it starts flowering in March when there isn’t enough food for them, and keeps going until  October.
But I have quite a small garden, so wouldn’t want to introduce an invasive plant there. Thank you ☺️ 
Surrey
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  • TheveggardenerTheveggardener Posts: 1,057
    Purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) is a common annual weed that belongs to the mint family, which explains why it's such a pest. Like other mints, purple deadnettle is an aggressive grower that spreads like wildfire anywhere it can get a foothold.4 Apr 2018
  • econuteconut Posts: 2
    I found a useful article on it here: https://www.gardenista.com/posts/gardening-101-spotted-dead-nettle-lamium-maculatum-perennial-ground-cover-plant-growing-guide/ 

    It looks like some of the varieties are very aggressive, but there seem to be more manageable ones too.  If in doubt, I would plant it in a container, so you and the bees can enjoy it, but it can't escape!  Just make sure it doesn't seed itself!
  • DampGardenManDampGardenMan Posts: 1,054
    Another lamium is Lamium orvala - this is, allegedly, non invasive. It too might be good for bees, though I have no personal experience of it.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited March 2019
    Lamium orvala is not invasive in this garden ... it’s very well behaved and loved by the bees.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I have lamium orvala as well. I bough the original plant from Carol Klein back in the days when she used to exhibit at Malvern and she assured me that it was well behaved. Needless to say, she was correct, and the bees do love it. Some info here (but l have to say it's not the most flattering photo).
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/9818/Lamium-orvala/Details
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    Lamium purpureum is a common annual, easily pulled up if you don't want it
    Lamium maculatum is perennial and holds on much tighter to the soil, 
    bees love both.


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    I have a mixture of bergenia, lamium maculatum and vinca minor growing between a young elder tree and a rosa rugoas hedge on the windy side of my garden. There are snowdrops, hellebores and crocus in there as well, with geranium macrorrhizum on the sunny edge and a few self sown foxgloves that I leave to grow where they turn up. They all just muddle along together and I pull out any bits that try to break into the 'garden' side and any stinging nettles that get too big for their boots.
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Ive got a yellow one,  first saw it covering a big bank in a Churchyard and pinched a bit, it hasn’t spread very much, just enough, I’ve given lots of roots away,  I wouldn’t be without it as the bees do love it. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • DampGardenManDampGardenMan Posts: 1,054
    Lyn said:
    Ive got a yellow one
    That's not archangel (Lamium galeobdolon) is it? I've always like that but shied away from it as I understood it to be very invasive.

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    DampGardenMan said:
    Lyn said:
    Ive got a yellow one
    That's not archangel (Lamium galeobdolon) is it? I've always like that but shied away from it as I understood it to be very invasive.

    I have Lamium galeobdolon.  It spreads by runners that root where they touch down, like strawberries, and gets everywhere if you turn your back on it. It is fairly easy to dig out though, and it's saving grace is that it will grow in dry shade.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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