Will Olney talks about the benefits of Lamium ground covers

🌿 Lamium: The Unsung Hero of Shady Gardens—Locally Grown at Olney’s Garden Center

In the quiet corners of Rome, NY gardens—under maples, beside porches, along the Erie Canal’s shaded banks—Lamium quietly steals the show. Known as “dead nettle,” this low-growing perennial is a master of contrast, resilience, and charm. And when it’s grown locally at Olney’s Garden Center, it comes with the kind of quality and care that makes planting it a no-brainer.

🎨 Why Lamium Deserves the Spotlight

• Striking Variegated Foliage Lamium’s leaves shimmer with silver, green, and cream—like a living mosaic. Whether you choose ‘White Nancy’, ‘Orchid Frost’, or ‘Purple Dragon’, each variety adds texture and light to shady spots.
• Colorful Blooms From spring through summer, Lamium produces delicate flowers in pink, purple, or white. These tubular blooms aren’t just pretty—they’re pollinator magnets.
• Shade-Loving & Low Maintenance Lamium thrives in partial to full shade, making it perfect for Rome’s tree-lined yards. It tolerates dry shade once established and requires minimal upkeep.
• Weed Suppression & Moisture Conservation Its dense mat of foliage acts like a living mulch, keeping weeds at bay and moisture in the soil.
• Erosion Control & Soil Health Lamium’s root system stabilizes soil and improves its structure—especially useful on slopes or near water features.
• Deer-Resistant & Versatile It’s unappetizing to deer and works beautifully in hanging baskets, window boxes, or as a ground cover under shrubs.

🌱 Locally Grown at Olney’s Garden Center

Olney’s Garden Center in Rome, NY grows Lamium varieties that are adapted to our climate and soil. Their plants are:

• Hardened to Central New York winters
• Selected for vigor and visual appeal
• Backed by expert advice from staff who know your neighborhood

🛡️ Olney’s One-Year Guarantee

Here’s the clincher: Olney’s offers a one-year replacement guarantee on all perennial plants. If your Lamium doesn’t thrive, just bring it back within a year—along with your receipt—and they’ll replace it. It’s a promise rooted in trust and community care.

🌼 Planting Tips

• Spacing: 12–18 inches apart for a lush carpet.
• Soil: Well-drained, loamy, slightly acidic.
• Watering: Keep evenly moist, especially during dry spells.
• Companions: Pairs beautifully with hostas, ferns, and astilbes.

Lamium is more than a filler—it’s a feature. With its shimmering leaves, pollinator-friendly blooms, and practical benefits, it’s a shade garden essential. And when it comes from Olney’s, it carries the heart of Rome in every leaf.