This attractive shade-loving herbaceous perennial is in its prime in the Woodland Garden.
Lamium orvala (balm-leaved red deadnettle) is a spring-flowering, clump-forming perennial from central and southeastern Europe, which thrives in moist, well-drained, shady situations. It is a stout species reaching 30cm in height and spread, and bears opposite, hairy, toothed leaves. The flowers are held in a whorl around the square stems, with the upper hood having a distinctly hairy margin, while the lower petal is two-lobed and has a white background with red-purple markings. There is also a white variety, L. orvala f. albiflorum which is equally attractive and resilient. This is one of approximately 30 species which occur in Europe, North Africa and Asia.