I too have found them invasive. I have planted many of the named varieties and lived to regret it. They sprawl and spread everywhere. I also found them appearing in gardens where they have never been planted, and assume that they also reseed. I removed them by careful weeding. It is not as daunting or time consuming as it looks at first, but keep your eye on the patch. In my experience, they will continue to appear several years after removal, so be vigilant. Lamiastrum also grows here, planted by a previous owner. It does not spread as much as the lamium, but I have not been able to eradicate it, either. Curious how plants behave in different spots. My gardens are surrounded by forest, and I began to hate lamium once it decided to spread into the forest, smothering my trilliums and jack-in-the-pulpits. Vinca is also a menace, with similar growth patterns. I have been to forests where the only undergrowth remaining was vinca. Beautiful, but none of the native wildflowers or ferns survived and trees were unable to reseed themselves to perpetuate the forest.

I sought after lamiums after I read about them in Marianne Binetti's books as slug resistant easy care plants to let roam under shrubs and trees. She suggested to dig out clumps to put in hanging baskets or deck containers in part shade as fillers. There is a big difference between yellow flowering ones & the pink/white ones. I've been happy with them, but have noticed they have different levels of vigorous. My current favorite is Aurea for it's golden foliage plus bright orchid blooms that attracts the hummingbirds in a hanging basket near our hot tub. It grows nicely outward down & up again in baskets. My least vigorous is a white leaved purple pink flower, perhaps Red Nancy. It brightens up shady corners, but isn't liking container growing. I put some of it in the ground as well and is a slow grower as compared to white stripe green leaved bright pink flowered one, Chequers. I favor 4-5' sweeps of them as 18" wide edgings in shady beds. In early spring I cut back any scraggly stems to make it tidy. Then I cut back again quite hard after flowering for good foliage all summer. These cuttings can easily be rooted for more plants to give away. I've only purchased one lamium Aurea as the others were from plant swaps often in a plastic bag as bareroot clumps. They appeared almost dead, but water perks them right up especially after getting back into soil. The best part is they're so easy care because they flower in the shade without fertilizer, water, or slug bait protection. I've tried some in sunnier beds and as long as kept moist or in part shade or away from heat reflecting pots, rocks, or garden ornaments they do better. Also, they don't need any fertilizer to bloom well. The 2nd year in the ground growth is amazing! I wouldn't hesitate to plant them.

:) that's a great way to lighten up a shaded nook. woodland phlox is a great choice for the same area- it makes fairy wands of lavander flowers in the spring, and if it gets even a little sun, it spreads fast. in both cases, you can encourage spreading by light mulching over the stems after they have flopped to the ground, or discourage it by mulching UNDER the stems, or plopping a rock in its way. Japanese painted fern is a favorite of mine- it needs about an hour of sun a day to look its best, but the burgundy and silver veins are prettier than some flowers. one 6-pack starter of impatiens of coleus can go a long way if you pinch them back, and root the babies...not to mention being a great kid project :)

Wow, those are some fabulous pics. I am not familiar with Herman's Pride. Looks like an upright form? I have planted Lamium on an east facing retaining wall. Red Nancy. I have Silver Beacon in full sun in my yard, it is a STUNNER. Both areas are contained, but the plant does pop up in other areas of my yard. I'm hoping Red Nancy will fill in as a nice ground cover as my Silver Beacon has, and eventually spill over the wall. I had wondered if it would take over hostas, but these pics are inspiring. Melissa, I do like Anne Greenway. I planted a similar 'Golden Anniversary' this year, I thought I'd try and see how it does. So far, so good. Soft pink flowers.