The best gardens please all the senses, including our sense of touch. Lamb’s ear is one of those extraordinary perennials that feels as good as it looks, with leaves so soft and velvety that you can’t resist stooping down to caress them for the sheer joy of it.
Although this easy-care plant is usually grown for the attractive silvery-gray foliage, some varieties also send up showy spikes of purple or pink flowers in summer. Drought tolerant and fast growing, lamb’s ear is ideal for use as a ground cover, edging a sunny border, or in rock garden plantings. And of course, it’s a wonderful addition to a sensory garden because of its visual and tactile appeal.
Oblong to elliptical, densely hairy leaves are gray-green to silvery in appearance with a soft, downy feel.
Small two-lipped flowers bloom on upright stalks in various shades of pink and purple and, more rarely, white. Some cultivars are nonflowering.
The Soft and Silvery Beauty of Lamb’s Ear Plants
With their velvety soft, silvery-white leaves, lamb’s ear plants are truly eye-catching additions to any garden. Also known by their botanical name Stachys byzantina, these fuzzy perennials are not only beautiful to look at but also have a interesting history of use. In this article, we’ll explore what makes lamb’s ear plants so special, how to grow them yourself, and collect some of the most stunning lamb’s ear images that capture their unique beauty.
A Closer Look at Lamb’s Ear LeavesThe most distinctive characteristic of lamb’s ear is the covering of fuzzy silvery-white hairs on their leaves. These fine woolly hairs give the leaves a soft, silky texture that resembles felt or suede. When you run your fingers over the foliage, it feels like a lamb’s ear – hence the name! The leaves themselves are oval to oblong in shape and form low-growing mats or clumps close to the ground. In the right conditions, lamb’s ear will spread readily to form a dense ground cover. They make excellent edging plants and ground covers in borders, rock gardens, and xeriscapes.
Beyond their ornamental appeal, the fuzziness of lamb’s ear leaves serves an important functional purpose. The hairs help reflect sunlight and conserve moisture, allowing lamb’s ear to thrive even in hot, dry conditions. The texture also makes the plants unappealing to deer and other wildlife that might feed on them.
A Mediterranean Native With a Long HistoryLamb’s ear plants originated in some of the world’s hotspots for botanical diversity – the Caucasus mountains of Eurasia. Here, the thick leaf hairs likely helped native plants conserve moisture in an arid climate. While popular in gardens today, lamb’s ear has traditionally been valued as a useful herb Ancient texts describe applications for treating wounds and other medicinal uses The leaves are also edible and can be used in salads or cooked dishes.
When crushed, the fuzzy leaves give off a subtle apple-like aroma, which provides a hint to the origin of another traditional name for lamb’s ear: “woolly apple geranium”. However, lamb’s ear is not actually related to true geraniums at all. Botanically, they belong to the mint family Lamiaceae.
How to Grow Lamb’s Ear Plants in Your Garden
Lamb’s ear care is quite straightforward. The plants are easy to grow in most temperate climates and adapt readily to a variety of conditions. Here are some key tips for successfully growing lamb’s ear yourself:
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Sunlight – Lamb’s ear thrives in full sun but also tolerates partial shade, especially in hot climates. Give them a spot with 6 hours of direct sun a day.
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Soil – These plants grow well in average to poor soil and do not require frequent fertilization. Well-draining soil is essential to prevent fungal diseases.
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Water – Allow the soil to dry out between watering. Overhead watering encourages rot and leaf spots.
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Spread – Space plants 12-18 inches apart. They will spread readily. Clip back rampant growth as needed.
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Hardiness – Lamb’s ear is hardy in zones 4-9. It remains evergreen in warmer zones but dies back in cold winters.
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Pests & disease – Leaf spots and rot can be issues in humid climates. Otherwise lamb’s ear has good pest resistance.
Capturing the Beauty in Images
The soft hues and delicate texture of lamb’s ear foliage lend themselves beautifully to photography. Silvery-white leaves seem to glow when backlit by the sun. Side-lighting also brings out the subtle color variations. The contrast between the fuzzy foliage and delicate purple blooms creates stunning compositions as well.
Lamb’s ear also pairs nicely with other garden favorites like lavender and coreopsis. Blurring the background can emphasize lamb’s ear texture even more. Photos taken at macro scale capture the fine hairs covering each leaf for a whole new perspective on this unique plant.
In the hands of a skilled photographer, even common plants become striking works of art. Browsing collections of lamb’s ear images provides endless inspiration for capturing the elegance of this beautiful perennial in your own garden.
PerennialsDiscover the right perennial plants for your garden.
Silver Carpet lambs ear. Photo by: Kristine Rad / Shutterstock
The best gardens please all the senses, including our sense of touch. Lamb’s ear is one of those extraordinary perennials that feels as good as it looks, with leaves so soft and velvety that you can’t resist stooping down to caress them for the sheer joy of it.
Although this easy-care plant is usually grown for the attractive silvery-gray foliage, some varieties also send up showy spikes of purple or pink flowers in summer. Drought tolerant and fast growing, lamb’s ear is ideal for use as a ground cover, edging a sunny border, or in rock garden plantings. And of course, it’s a wonderful addition to a sensory garden because of its visual and tactile appeal.
Woolly betony, donkey’s ears, woolly hedge nettle
Full sun to partial shade
4 to 18 inches tall, 12 to 36 inches wide
Oblong to elliptical, densely hairy leaves are gray-green to silvery in appearance with a soft, downy feel.
Small two-lipped flowers bloom on upright stalks in various shades of pink and purple and, more rarely, white. Some cultivars are nonflowering.
- The fuzzy foliage repels deer and rabbits
- Tolerant of black walnut toxicity
- Leaves remain evergreen in warm climates
- Heat and drought tolerant
- Flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies
Is lamb’s ear invasive?
Although plants will spread readily in a favorable site via creeping stems, they are easily removed where not wanted and aren’t considered invasive. Flowering lamb’s ear varieties can also spread through self-sowing, which can be controlled by deadheading the flower stalks.
Silver Carpet lambs ear with blooms. Photo by: Igor Grochev / Shutterstock
In spring, after the danger of frost has passed, and up until early fall. If planting in fall, give plants enough time to establish roots before winter.
Native to the Mediterranean, lamb’s ear grows best in full sun (at least 6 hours of sunlight daily) but can benefit from some afternoon shade in hot climates. Established plants will tolerate drought, which makes them a great choice for drier spots in the garden. If using as an edging plant, grow in a site where its spreading habit can be kept under control.
Dig a hole slightly larger than the plant’s container, then gently remove the plant and place it in the hole with the crown level with the soil surface. Backfill with soil, then water thoroughly. If planting in mass, space plants at least 12 inches apart, depending on their width at maturity, to ensure good air circulation and prevent overcrowding.
Because of its silvery foliage and downy texture, lamb’s ear is a nice alternative to dusty miller or artemisia in container combinations, acting as a cooling contrast to brightly colored flowering annuals. Be sure to plant in a high-quality all-purpose potting mix, using a container with drainage holes so the roots won’t get waterlogged. Pair only with plants requiring similar exposure conditions and water requirements.
Learn more about growing lambs ear in your garden, from Janey @digplantwaterrepeat.
Give established plants about an inch of water a week during dry spells, keeping the foliage as dry as possible by watering at ground level. Avoid overhead watering, since the hairy leaves can trap water, leading to powdery mildew and other fungal diseases. Adding a layer of mulch around the base of your plants can also help prevent soil moisture from coming in contact with the leaves.
If you have compacted or heavy clay soil, amend it with compost or other organic matter to improve drainage. Lamb’s ear needs little nourishment to thrive, so fertilizing is generally unnecessary.
To keep your plants looking neat and tidy, clip off the flower stalks at the base after the blooms fade in midsummer. Some gardeners prefer to prune off the flower stalks as they form so the plant’s energy remains focused on the foliage. Plants may also benefit from thinning in midsummer to expose them to more sunlight and to improve air circulation, which can reduce the chance for rot.
Lamb’s ear should be divided every three or four years in spring to prevent overcrowding and to improve plant health. Generally, you’ll know it’s time to divide your plants when they begin to die out in the center. Dig up the rootball and use a spade or sharp knife to divide into healthy, rooted sections, which can then be replanted or shared.
Can be propagated from seed (unless you’re growing a non-blooming variety) or by division.
This hardy, cold-tolerant plant will withstand temperatures well below freezing without special protection, but the foliage will die back to the ground in areas with harsh winters. Wait until early spring to rake away the dead foliage, and when the weather and soil warm up, the plant will send up new, green growth.
Lamb’s ear has few pest problems, but can develop root rot and foliar diseases in humid, overly wet conditions. Remove wilting or rotting leaves as soon as you see them and make sure the soil is well-drained.
Grow Lamb’s Ear for its Fantastic Fuzzy Foliage + More
FAQ
Does lamb’s ear come back every year?
Yes, lamb’s ear is a perennial plant, meaning it comes back every year.
What are the cons of lamb’s ears?
Lamb’s ear has few pest problems, but can develop root rot and foliar diseases in humid, overly wet conditions. Remove wilting or rotting leaves as soon as you see them and make sure the soil is well-drained.
Where is the best place to plant lamb’s ears?
Lamb’s ear thrives in well-drained soil, full sun to partial shade, and prefers dry conditions. It’s a great choice for sunny, dry spots like rock gardens, along dry streambeds, or in gravel gardens, according to Plant by Number.
How do you tell the difference between lamb’s ear and mullein?
Lamb’s ear and mullein, both with fuzzy leaves, are often confused but have key differences. Lamb’s ear is a low-growing, spreading plant with soft, silvery-gray-green leaves resembling lamb’s ears. Mullein, on the other hand, has larger, more upright, gray-green leaves, often forming a rosette at the base, and a tall, flowering stalk in its second year.