Yellow Archangel

©Paul Lane

Yellow Archangel

©Philip Precey

Yellow archangel

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Scientific name: Lamium galeobdolon
As the Bluebells fade, Yellow archangel takes its turn to impress, with golden-yellow flowers carpeting our ancient woodlands. Although it is a from the dead-nettle family, it does not sting.

Top facts

Category

Stats

Height: up to 45cm

Conservation status

Common.

When to see

May to June

About

The flowers of Yellow archangel come into bloom just as the Bluebells are fading, replacing the blue carpet of a spring woodland with a golden-yellow one. A plant of ancient woodlands and hedgerows, Yellow archangel may well have got its common name from its virtue of not stinging, despite being part of the dead-nettle family.

What to look for

Looking a bit like a Stinging Nettle, Yellow archangel is a hairy perennial with heart-shaped or oval, toothed leaves, and whorls of yellow, 'hooded' flowers that appear up the stem.

Where to find

Found throughout the UK, but most common in England and Wales.

Did you know?

A widely planted garden variety of Yellow archangel has the nickname of 'aluminium archangel' because of the silver streaks in its leaves. This variety has escaped into the wild in many places.