Lamium orvala

Lamium orvala has the hardiness of a white dead-nettle, the foliage of a nettle, and the grace of an orchid. 

Also known as red dead-nettle, orvala dead-nettle, or meadow dead-nettle, Lamium orvala shares with the white dead-nettle great hardiness and a preference for semi-shaded exposures and moist soils; from a "morphological" point of view, there is no comparison between the two plants.

Lamium orvala is a perennial that forms upright and bushy clumps, reaching a height of 50cm (20in). Its sculptural foliage is strikingly similar to that of a stinging nettle. In spring, it produces beautiful purplish-pink flowers with a white "tongue" streaked with purple, evoking the grace of orchid flowers.

A hardy plant par excellence, Lamium orvala can be grown in any moist soil, at the edge or in the background of a semi-shaded border, along with 'Hidcote Blue' comfrey, 'Midnight Rose' coral bells, and dame's rocket.