Lamb’s Ear Plant Profile
The silver-gray basal foliage of Lamb’s Ears (Stachys byzantina) spreads along the ground by rhizomes and in early summer it sends up tall wands of purple flowers. Once the flowers are done, cut them back for a tidier garden look.
It is also known as Woolly Hedgenettle and Wooly Betony. It is native to Europe/Asia.
Lamb’s Ear is in the mint family (the square stem is a clue) and that is your indication also that this is a fast spreader when given the chance.
The soft, fuzzy leaves of this plant make it a favorite
for children’s gardens and sensory learning.
That fuzziness also makes it unpalatable to deer and rabbits.
It prefers full sun and a well-draining soil. It can be planted on mild slopes and along sidewalk edges. A bit of foot traffic does not bother it and it bounces back well.
Lamb’s Ear is pretty shallow-rooted making it easy to dig and divide. Remove sections in spring or fall to fill in other areas or gift it to other gardeners.
It is considered semi-evergreen as the leaves can shrivel up and die back in cold winters. Remove any spent foliage in early spring to prepare the plant for the new growing season.
Lamb’s Ear does not tolerate wet conditions for long or high humidity. It is happiest when planted where it can get good air circulation around it. Once established, it is fairly drought-tolerant.
It attracts pollinators and is often planted in butterfly gardens. Lamb’s Ear is also used in xeriscaping and for fire-wise landscapes.
Lamb’s
Ear – you can grow that!
This profile was excerpted from the book Groundcover Revolution by
Kathy Jentz. Order it today at https://amzn.to/4aDHN4u
(affiliate link).
The video was produced
by Washington Gardener Magazine.
Audio, Video, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz
Editing by Koree Perry
➤ If you enjoy this video
please give it a thumbs up and subscribe (thank you!)
➤Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when
our new videos are out
➤ FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE
~ WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com
~ http://twitter.com/WDCGardener
~ facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine
If you liked this video, we think you will like these other Plant
Profiles:
~ Rose Campion Plant Profile
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/07/rose-campion-plant-profile.html
~ Dusty Miller Plant Profile
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2026/03/dusty-miller-plant-profile.html
~ Stokesia Plant Profile
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/08/stokesia-plant-profile.html
~ Mountain Mint Plant Profile
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/08/mountain-mint-plant-profile.html
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment