Yellow Archangel: Beautiful but Invasive—Eradication Takes Years

I believe I'm finally rid of the infernal archangel.

Years ago I found a plant perfect for my shady backyard: silvery green foliage, yellow spring flowers, described as a spreading plant tolerating heavy shade. "No more boring English ivy," I decided. Yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon) would be distinctive. I planted several 4-inch pots under azaleas, near ferns and hostas, wherever I wanted silver contrast.

Within a couple of years, I was losing small ferns overwhelmed by the vine. An azalea near a vigorous clump was tangled with silvery leaves. Archangel sprouts appeared under hydrangeas fifteen feet from the nearest original planting. I realized archangel was too similar to kudzu for my taste. A tank of weedkiller began my first eradication attempt.

I sprayed every spring for three years, pulled far-spreading clumps and bagged them, resprayed in September for survivors. Now yellow archangel is gone, I believe, at last. Good riddance to a weed that, when I see it at a nursery, I want to jerk from its pot and grind into concrete!