Stachys byzantina
If you make out industrial plant that are as fun to face at as they are to touch , lamb ’s ears , Stachys byzantina , make a incredibly downy summation to any landscape .
It ’s also astonishingly well-to-do to grow , since the only affair it does n’t like is soggy soil .
In fact , lamb ’s ear is drought resistant and only need to be watered once a week in most zone , though it may command body of water more often in particularly blistering and juiceless conditions .
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While famous for its leafage , it also features pinkish or purple flush . Some cultivar , like ‘ Cotton Boll , ’ have white flowers , but these are less common .
This recurrent grows good in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9 and prefers full sunshine , but it can also be spring up in partial refinement . It is so versatile and hardy that it often spread and becomes a goodground covering .
It ’s also known in some R-2 as a natural “ dance band - aid ” as the leave of absence have a history of habit to address complaint like bee sting .
Let ’s instruct more about this magnificently fuzzy plant that declare oneself beautiful texture to any landscape .
What You’ll Learn
Quick Look
Planting
How to Grow
cultivar to choose
sustenance
Propagation
Pests and Disease
Best US
Lamb ’s ears , also call wooly-haired betony or woolly hedge - nettle , originated in the Middle East and expand inUSDA Hardiness Zones4 through 9 .
Unsurprisingly , these common name denote the soft grain of the leafage , which is like the ear of a dear . The leaves are even a standardised sizing and shape to the ears of these brute , but their coloring material , a silvery green , is quite different .
Common name(s):Lamb ’s ears , wooly betony . woolly hedge - nettle
Plant case : Herbaceous perennial
Hardiness ( USDA Zone):6.0 - 6.5
aboriginal to : Middle East
time of year : Spring , summer , fall
Exposure : Full to partial Dominicus
grease type : Clay , loam , sand , shallow rocky , well drain
land pH:6.0 - 6.5 , slightly acidic
Spacing : 12 - 18 inches
Planting depth : Soil surface ( seeds ) , same depth as container ( transplant )
Mature size : Up to 30 inch full x up to 32 inches high
pee penury : Low
Taxonomy
ordination : Lamiales
folk : Lamiaceae
Genus : Stachys
Species : Byzantina
cultivar : Various
S. byzantinabelongs to the Lamiaceae family and is related to other popular plants likemint .
The resemblance can be recover if you look nearly at the frame and complex body part of the leave of absence . However , this species is vicious to many animals and should n’t be consume .
Despite its unassuming appearance , lamb ’s ear has quite a rich story . Another nickname , “ wooly-minded woundwort , ” references its usefulness as a patch , due to its acerbic properties .
The leave-taking were used to dress wounding or as can newspaper in medieval time , and they were also reportedly used as patch in the American Civil War .
Today it is used mostly as an intriguing landscape plant . Its texture makes it especially popular in sensorial or therapy gardens , and it holds a seat in historic gardens too .
The species works can produce up to 30 in wide of the mark and 32 inches tall , though many cultivars are small . Lamb ’s ear is hardy and spreads quickly , which makes it a grand ground cover charge – but it needs to be pruned once a year .
S. byzantinais drought broad and can mature in full Sunday or partial shade . In some gardens it may even become scrawny and can cursorily take over . For that ground , some mass grow it in pots or minor beds to contain its spread .
Some variety of lamb ’s ear , like ‘ Big spike ’ and ‘ Silver Carpet , ’ do n’t produce flowers . If you desire to keep your plants from spreading by self - seeding , choose a non - flowering variety .
you’re able to notice potted lamb ’s ear in most garden centre in both springtime and fall .
Spring is the most plebeian time to transplant , after the peril of icing has passed , but other fall is also suitable in most climates , including frost - free zones where the plants may quell green through the wintertime .
Here ’s how to implant them :
This is a in force sentence to apply a piss - soluble fertilizer if you did n’t already prepare the land with a slow - release option or compost .
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This Cartesian product is higher in atomic number 7 ( 5 - 1 - 1 NPK ) , which is good for foliage flora .
If you are transplanting multiple , give each one at least 12 inches of space on all sides . This will give the lamb ’s ears rich way to spread out and permit for proper airflow in between .
If you are transplant your lamb ’s ear into a pot , select one that hold at least three gallons of soil to give it room to grow . The plant will still multiply via rhizome in a container , so it will need to be divided and repotted every three years or so .
How to Grow Lamb’s Ears
Growing lamb ’s ears is a walkover , even for nurseryman with less - than - idealistic soil or hot , dry weather .
This hardy perennial is an first-class pick for anyone look to tot up low - maintenance grain and argent colouring material to their landscape .
With its velvety leaves and matte - make drug abuse , it thrive with minimal fuss . Let ’s research the key care requirements .
Light
This coinage grows best in full Sunday but it will stomach fond wraith .
In the shade it be given to appear more green , since it create fewer silvery hairs . Still , it will retain its sport , blurred texture .
Soil
Lamb ’s ears is extremely easygoing and forgiving , and it can turn in everything from sandy loam to shallow , rocky land .
The Francis Scott Key is planting it in well - drain soil . If you have compacted or Henry Clay - type earth , use amendments like compost or sand to improve drain .
The filth should have a slightly acidulent pH of 6.0 to 6.5 for optimum ontogenesis . you may test the soil pH and food with asoil testfrom your local extension service , and amend as take .
Water
Watering is the primary consideration when caring for lamb ’s capitulum . Do n’t water from above since the foliage easily trap water , putting the leaf at increase danger of grow powdery mould .
It only needs to be water once a week in most climate . In particularly harsh temperatures and time of drought , they can be watered up to twice a week as needed .
When possible , lightly body of water below the plant to denigrate splashing and concentrate the risk of open soilborne pathogen . And always avoid overwatering , since lamb ’s ears easily develops root rot .
Fertilizer
Lamb ’s ear can usually live without fertilizer but it will aid your plant life to grow stronger .
The most common way to fertilize is by applying a liquified plant food to the soil around the base of the plant . Slow - release fertilizer stakes are also popular and easy to use .
The good prison term to fecundate is in early spring . This is because the plants are go forth from dormancy at this time , and will take more nutrients . In warm climates like that of Zone 9 where lamb ’s ear remain evergreen , plants can be fertilise in the fall .
In general , look for a plant food that is high in N since foliage is fundamental to the plant ’s wellness and coming into court . Do n’t fertilize seedlings until they are at least four weeks old , or otherwise it might burn .
Container Growing
Lamb ’s ears can be grown in containers , particularly dwarf variety . Choose a pot with fantabulous drainage and use a sandy or grainy potting mix .
void overwatering , as containers can trap wet more easily than in - solid ground plantings .
Place the pot in full sunlight and rotate it sporadically to insure even outgrowth .
Lamb ’s auricle cultivar vary wide in size , color , and flowering . When choosing a diverseness , consider where the plant is going to go and whether or not you require it to bloom .
Big Ear
‘ Big Ear , ’ aka ‘ Helene von Stein , ’ is a vernacular , mostly flowerless variety . As its name implies , it has large , silvery - green leaves .
‘ Big Ear ’
It is larger than many other variety , reaching up to 12 inches tall and 24 column inch spacious .
If you want to add this popular cultivar to your garden , plants areavailable at Nature Hills Nursery .
Cotton Boll
‘ Cotton Boll ’ gets its name from its observably white bloom . This cultivar has leave that are hairier than the ‘ prominent Ear ’ or ‘ Silver Carpet , ’ resulting in a softer feel and a very silver to white appearance .
It is especially useful as a landscape plant since it allows other species to abide out .
Primrose Heron
If you are looking for a inadequate variety with a lot of style , ‘ Primrose Heron ’ is the room to go . It only acquire to 16 inch tall and 20 inches wide , but it is jazz for its lime tree - immature to jaundiced foliage .
Despite the colour difference , ‘ Primrose Heron ’ still has the velvety texture lamb ’s ear is known for . This cultivar also features small regal flowers that make it popular with pollinators .
Silver Carpet
‘ Silver Carpet ’ is one of the most pop variety because of its thick foliage and namesake atomic number 47 color .
‘ Silver Carpet ’
It only grows up to six inches tall and diffuse 30 inches wide , making it an idealistic ground cover . It seldom flowers , so you wo n’t have to deadhead it .
If you want to bring this easy cultivar to your garden , find plantsat Nature Hills Nursery .
Lamb ’s ears spreads quickly and easily by both rhizomes and seeds , so it ’s crucial to split the plant often and watch over for self - sowing .
Plants should be divided every three or four years . Division is authoritative for the health of the roots and to forbid general overcrowding , but also to allow for proper flow of air . If atmosphere ca n’t circularize freely around the farewell , this increase disease danger .
You should also remove onetime and dead foliage from the base of the plant life . The best time to take old leafage is in the fall , since lamb ’s ear dies back in the wintertime in most regions .
And the second best clip for pruning and maintenance is in the spring , once new maturation begins to appear .
honest-to-goodness or utter foliage will appear yellow or browned and it will be closest to the jacket . get rid of it might take a little piece of work , since the healthy leaf will hide old growth .
To uncover the dead foliage , gently lift the healthy leaves and utilize needlelike pruning shears to remove the old increment . Sanitize your shear between cutting to prevent the spread of disease .
Proper pruning and maintenance will aid to foreclose the bedcover of disease and encourage healthy growth . It ’s also a good melodic theme to to a great extent rationalize your lamb ’s pinna once a yr to further young , more compact growth .
When trimming back plants or doing a heavy pruning , give them some fertilizer when you ’re finished so they have enough nutrients to grow back impregnable .
If you do not want your industrial plant to spread via self - sown germ , you shoulddeadheadthe blossom .
Many people edit out the flowers off as they form so vigor is focused on the leafage , or they may be enjoyed and cut back after they ’re finished . alike , you could choose to grow a diversity that does not produce flowers .
If you desire to prevent lamb ’s ear from spreading via underground rhizomes , farm yours in a pot or contained bed .
You should still plan to divide the Modern plants every three age or so to optimize airflow . Dispose of any offsets that you do n’t wish to transplant elsewhere in the garden .
Lamb ’s spike can be grow from seed or propagated by division . It can also be develop from cuttings but this is much strong to pull off .
Of of course the cultivars bred to not produce bloom , ca n’t be grow from source .
Lamb ’s ear is low sustentation and resistant to certain hungry herbivores . However , it is susceptible to moisture - related disease and certain pests .
Be sure to bulge with well - drain stain and give each plant life at least 12 inches of space for proper airflow .
Pests
Animals rarely bother or feed lamb ’s ears , and this species is notably cervid and cony resistant . While they might eat them in uttermost situation , like times of drouth , most do n’t like the texture of the leaves .
Slugs and snailslike to hide under this plant . They seldom damage or corrode the fuzzy leaf , but their front is n’t good for other plants growing nearby . Avoid mulching around lamb ’s ear since mulch also gives these pests a place to hide .
While there are occasional reports of cat eating the leaves , it is uncommon . In general , lamb ’s ear is easy to like for , with its biggest trouble being related to wet - related diseases .
Disease
Lamb ’s ear is susceptible to various disease , especially those relate to wet , humidity , and overwatering .
Root rotmay set in when roots are maintain damp for too farsighted , molder due to asphyxiation or fungous infection . It is most often a result of excessive watering and growing in grime that holds water . Once it has start , there is n’t much you may do to reverse root putrefaction .
planetary house include stunted growth and yellowing or droop folio . If you suspect your plant has root rot , loosen the grease around the root word of and take a expression at the root ball . If there are still some firm , white root among the rotten one , the plant life has a fight probability .
Prepare the afflicted plant for transplanting by clearing out any dead roots . Be easy with the firm roots that stay as they are vital to the plant ’s selection .
Replant in fresh soil with good drainage .
Powdery mildewis triggered by a fungus , Neoerysiphe galeopsidis , which does n’t commonly kill host plant life but it does harm them . It can be difficult to spot since its white to grey color and texture blend into the silvery - green leave .
Prevent powdery mildew before it becomes a problem by giving the plants right spacing and flow of air .
Rust , like powdery mildew , is hard to spot on this industrial plant ’s textured leave . If you surmise your lamb ’s auricle has rust , evidence by xanthous to brown or rust - color smudge , remove the touched foliage immediately and dispose of them in the food waste . Do not compost them .
Best Uses for Lamb’s Ear Plants
Lamb ’s ear is most commonly used as a soft edge to counterpoint with piercing lines and edge .
It is also a popular ground top since it is fertile and cushy . It does peculiarly well in bed with promising and colourful plants that are also drouth - resistant , likemarigoldsordaylilies .
Beneficial insects , like bees , also enjoy the flowers of this species , make it well - suited topollinatorand sensory gardens . It is even popular incottage gardensbecause of its soft color and grain .
Fuzzy and Fun for Everyone
Whether you are get a bungalow garden or are seem for a ground cover , lamb ’s capitulum is a various choice . As long as it is grown in well - drain grime , it should command very slight upkeep .
It is drought tolerant , upright for pollinator , and evergreen in certain zones . All in all , it ’s forgiving and loose to produce , make it perfect for new nurseryman .
For more data ongrowing flowers in your garden , check out these articles next :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . primitively put out April 15th , 2022 . Last updated : May 13th , 2025 . Product photos via Bonivee , Home Depot , and Nature Hills Nursery . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
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Jackalyn Beck
