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Hardiness: USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Sun Exposure: Light Shade
Danger: N/A
Bloom Color: Bright Yellow
Bloom Time: Late Spring/Early Summer Mid Summer
Foliage: Grown for foliage Herbaceous Variegated
Other details: Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Propagation Methods: By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets) From herbaceous stem cuttings From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse From seed; sow indoors before last frost From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting: Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
We have two huge iron pots (once used for washing clothes or scalding hogs), and this plant grows in these two pots regardless of weather, light or water. Stays pretty nearly all winter. Pots are hung by large chains from tree limbs and the runners are beautiful hanging down the sides of the pots. For a long time I did not know the name of the plant and had to take a sample to a nursery in order to obtain more plants. From one pot I divided the plant and both of these huge pots are full and beautiful. Have not planted it in the ground. We had trouble getting anything to grow in these pots. The pots do have drain holes in the bottom. We occasionally put Miracle Grow in the soil, and they grow and bloom beautifully. I am not a gardner as we work all the time, but these plants have needed very little care to be extremely pretty. Thank you.
Im in Edmonton, Alberta - and this plant is ironclad hardy here (zone 3a) I grow it in big pots for its very handsome cascading foliage - personally I dont much care if it blooms. I drop the pots right into the veg garden for winter, and pull them out in spring. Ive got it in a dry shade area between two houses where nothing else grows, and you guessed it - it positively thrives, choking out weeds very nicely........which is why I will NEVER plant it with other desired plants again - its as aggressive as aegopodium in my garden, and getting its roots out from under a purple leafed sandcherry was a task Im unwilling to do again.
On Sep 5, 2003, Meandy from Tipton, IN (Zone 5a) wrote:
I planted this several years ago in a problem area that is not only shady but full of small tree stumps. It has performed so well and spread out and over all the stumps and filled in that area really well. I also started more of it on the north side of my house since I seem to have trouble getting a lot of things to grow there.
On Sep 4, 2003, Azalea from Jonesboro, GA (Zone 7b) wrote:
This plant grows well in sun or shade. It is also known as "Herman's Pride, or "Aluminum Plant" and does well in baskets or as a ground cover. The yellow blooms are striking in the spring. Easy to propagate by cuttings, the more it is cut back, the bushier it will be.
On Sep 4, 2003, pleb from Plymouth,
(United Kingdom) (Zone 9a) wrote:
The original unvariagated plant grows wild down here in SW England. It is to be found in woodland where it flowers before the leaves of the trees are fully out. The variagated form often escapes from gardens and can be found in shady spots where it's vigorous nature allows it to compete.
On May 30, 2003, lupinelover from Grove City, OH (Zone 6a) wrote:
It actually competes on a strong basis with lemon balm! If you have a large problem area, give this plant a try. It may be difficult to locate in commerce, but it has earned its keep in my shady garden.
On Aug 8, 2002, smiln32 from Oklahoma City, OK (Zone 7a) wrote:
I am using this as a houseplant and it's doing beautifully. Needs a fair amount of water, although, if it starts to wilt, give it a drink and it will look great again in no time.
On May 18, 2002, philomel from Termes d'Armagnac
(France) (Zone 8a) wrote:
This is a very beautiful plant which seduced me into adding it to my collection of Lamiums. However whereas the others gently seeded around, this sent out invasive runners and made itself far too at home. I am now finding it impossible to eradicate from around some very choice plants that it is throttling.
I feel its place is in the wild garden, or as groundcover in an awkward spot (it tolerates dry shade) but not near anything you treasure. With a dedicated patch to itself, it puts on a very handsome show.
On May 3, 2002, bmuller from Albuquerque, NM (Zone 7a) wrote:
This plant has grown well for me in the high desert in somewhat dry shade, under junipers, where there are tree roots to contend with. It blooms here in May, generally--small but attractive yellow blooms that complement the variegated leaves beautifully. It can be propagated easily from cuttings--just pop them into a jar of water. I don't know about seed collection--haven't tried.
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Springdale, Arkansas Alameda, California Martinez, California East Haddam, Connecticut Jonesboro, Georgia Chicago, Illinois Tipton, Indiana Inwood, Iowa Louisville, Kentucky Baton Rouge, Louisiana Ada, Michigan Young America, Minnesota Monett, Missouri New York, New York Belfield, North Dakota Grove City, Ohio Hulbert, Oklahoma Salem, Oregon Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania Rock Hill, South Carolina Crossville, Tennessee Austin, Texas Merrimac, Wisconsin