As a cultivar of Spotted Dead Nettle, 'Aureum' inherits the parent plant's tolerance for shade and dry soil, but it arrives carrying its own visual argument in the form of foliage that glows: gold to chartreuse leaves with a white stripe down the center, above which soft pink flower spikes emerge in fall. At eight inches tall and two feet wide when mature, it moves through shaded borders and woodland gardens as a low, spreading accent, brightening the edges of pathways or cascading over a low stone wall in a way that brings texture and warmth to spots that would otherwise read as dim and undifferentiated.

In zones 4 through 9, 'Aureum' asks for partial to heavy shade and evenly moist but well-drained soil; full sun will scorch the foliage quickly. It roots wherever its stems touch ground and divides easily in spring, so establishing a mass planting is straightforward once the first plants are in. Spacing plants 6 to 10 inches apart gives them room to spread without leaving long gaps during establishment. A light trim in late winter keeps the mat fresh and tidy, and the plants' resistance to deer and rabbits makes it particularly useful in gardens where browsing pressure is a recurring frustration.