How big does Yellow archangel grow?

About 40 cm × 1 m after ten years (height × width).

Is Yellow archangel hardy?

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

When does Yellow archangel flower?

Flowering: April–June, yellow.

How much water does Yellow archangel need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

Yellow archangel

Lamium galeobdolon

Yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon) is a ground cover plant that reaches 40 cm × 1 m after ten years. Light: part shade, shade. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Sold in local shops from about €7.90.

Illustration of Yellow archangel — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A shade-tolerant ground cover with hooded yellow flowers in spring; its plain green wild form is native to the moist deciduous woods of the region. Nurseries mostly sell the silver-splashed running form ('Florentinum', 'Variegatum'), which quickly makes a solid carpet even in dry shade under trees but spreads very aggressively and smothers weaker perennials. For a tidy border choose 'Hermann's Pride', which stays in a clump and does not send out runners.

Watch out for

The silver-splashed running form (subsp. argentatum, sold as 'Florentinum' and 'Variegatum') spreads very aggressively: its long stolons root at every node, advance by a metre or two in a season, scramble over low plants, and any broken stem piece becomes a new plant. Escaping from gardens, and above all from dumped garden waste, it settles in woodland where it crowds out the ground flora. In Germany the federal nature conservation agency classes it as invasive (management list), in Czechia it is a naturalised alien, in England and Wales it is illegal to plant it or let it grow in the wild, and in Norway it is rated a high-risk alien; it is not on the European Union list, nor on the Hungarian or Slovak lists. Do not plant it next to woodland, shelterbelts, stream banks or semi-natural land, never take the trimmings out of the garden, and keep it in check with an edging and regular cutting back. 'Hermann's Pride' stays in a clump, does not run and does not cause this problem. Slugs and snails may chew it; leaf blight and mites occur now and then.

Considered invasive in a neighbouring country

It isn't listed here, but don't plant it near natural habitats, woodland or water, and don't leave the clippings outside the garden.

Key facts

Light: Part shade, Shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 40 cm × 1 m
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Semi-evergreen
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D April–June, yellow

Group	Ground cover
Light	Part shade, Shade
Size after 10 years	40 cm × 1 m
Ultimate size	30–60 cm × 0.3–1 m
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Calcareous
Foliage	Semi-evergreen
Flowering	April–June, yellow
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	High
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	40 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	no data
Typical price	from about €7.90

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €7.90

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Ground cover plants for shade Ground cover plants Plants for shade