Picture of spotted dead nettle plants, displaying an attractive silvery foliage. The spotted dead nettle pictured above (Lamium maculatum 'White Nancy') has white blooms, but other colors are available. Regardless, the lamiums are perhaps more often grown for their foliage. This spotted dead nettle can be grown in zones 4-8. If you have trouble with marauding deer pests eating your plants, you won't have to worry about spotted dead nettle, since deer tend to leave it alone. 'White Nancy' lamiums stay relatively short -- less than a foot tall -- but spread out to three times their height.

Another dead nettle that is a shade-loving and deer-resistant plant is Lamium galeobdolon. This dead nettle can be grown in zones 4-9 and attains a height of 1'-2', with a similar spread. It puts out a yellow bloom, but is more often grown for its variegated foliage.