Lamium galeobdolon
NPPA pest plant
Common names
aluminium plant
Synonyms
Galeobdolon luteum subsp. luteum cv. Variegatum, Galeopsis galeobdolon L., Lamiastrum galeobdolon (L.) Ehrend. & Polatschek, Lamium luteum (Huds.) Krock.
Family
Lamiaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
LAMGAL
Conservation status
Not applicable
Habitat
Terrestrial. Disturbed bush, shrubland, fernland and margins throughout New Zealand.
Detailed description
An erect, stoloniferous mat-forming invasive pleasant smelling perennial herb to 50cm tall. Leaves mint-like- lance shaped to egg-shaped leaves to 8cm long by 6cm across, long stalked. Leaves pointed, coarsely-toothed with pale silvery-grey patches on either side of midrib on upper surface. Purplish square, densely hairy stems. Long non-rooting runners. Yellow flowers are 2-2.5cm long with upper and lower lips, occurring in dense axillary whorls (Dec-May).
Similar taxa
No other species with silver patches on the leaves.
Flowering
December, January, February, March, April, May.
Flower colours
Yellow
Life cycle
Perennial. Spreads vegetatively, seed not known from New Zealand. Dispersed by stolon fragments via soil movement, vegetative spread.
Year naturalised
1988
Origin
Europe, western Asia
Reason for introduction
Ornamental
Tolerances
Tolerates moderate shade, physical damage, wet to moderately dry, many soil types.
National Pest Plant Accord species
This plant is listed in the 2020 National Pest Plant Accord. The National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) is an agreement to prevent the sale and/or distribution of specified pest plants where either formal or casual horticultural trade is the most significant way of spreading the plant in New Zealand. For up to date information and an electronic copy of the 2020 Pest Plant Accord manual (including plant information and images) visit the MPI website.