Common Name: Yellow Archangel

General Information

Lamium galeobdolon is a herbaceous perennial plant spreading widely by means of stolons; it produces a loose mat of erect stems that can grow around 30 - 60cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is sometimes grown as a ground cover plant in wilder parts of the garden[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Throughout Europe, excluding Norway, Finland and Portugal, east to West Siberia, Turkey and Iran

Habitat

Woods and shady hedgerows[, ], usually on heavier soils. Sometimes becoming locally dominant, especially after coppicing[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Lamium galeobdolon is a fairly hardy plant, once established it can tolerate winter temperatures down to -20°c or lower[, ].
A very easily grown plant, it tolerates most soils and conditions, though it prefers a moist, well-drained soil in partial shade[, ]. It grows well in heavy clay soils[], though it prefers a light calcareous soil[]. Dislikes dry soils[]. This species succeeds even in dense shade, growing well under trees[, ]. Once established, it can also succeed in drought conditions under the shade of trees, providing there is plenty of humus in the soil[].
There are at least four sub-species, L. galeobdolon montanum is the form generally found wild in Britain and it is a triploid. L. galeobdolon luteum and L. galeobdolon flavidum are both diploids[]. L. galeobdolon argentatum is the more rampant form, its clone 'Variegatum' is a commonly used ground cover plant for shady places[].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[].
A very invasive plant, sending out long prostrate shoots that root at intervals along the stems[, ].

Edible Uses

Young leaves and shoots - cooked[].

Young shoots and flowering tips - cooked[].

Medicinal

The herb is antispasmodic, astringent, diuretic, expectorant, styptic and vasoconstrictor[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A good ground cover plant, spreading rapidly by means of its rooting stems and succeeding even in dense shade. It is very vigorous, however, and can smother small plants[, , ]. It does very well in woodlands[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - usually self sows freely and should not require human intervention. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
The seed can also be sown in situ as soon as it is ripe.
Division in spring. Succeeds at almost any time in the growing season. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.