Creeping perennial of woodland and hedgerows, this handsome plant bears its bright yellow flowers in whorls on erect stems from April to June. The two-lipped flowers (20-25mm) are extremely attractive when viewed closely, with their upper lip somewhat hooded and fringed with hairs, and their lower lip streaked red-brown. The dark green leaves are narrow, lanceolate and stalked. The plant in the photograph is a subspecies argentatum and has variegated leaves which are quite attractive This plant is considered to be a garden escape belonging to the family Lamiaceae.
I first identified the plant in the photograph in Ambrosetown, Co Wexford in 2007 when I took the picture.
If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre
