Growing Lamb’s Ears in the Flower and Herb Garden

Lamb’s ears, Stachys byzantine, is a species that was originally native to Turkey and Iran. It is now naturalized in meadows and slightly shady wood-lands throughout North America. It is fast spreading and low-growing. The plant blooms purple or pinkish flowers in the early spring that attract bees and hummingbirds.

In England, it has traditionally been grown in children’s gardens. The soft, wooly, lamb’s-ear shaped leaves are fun to touch and add interest to the garden. Lamb’s ear serves well as a low growing border for any flower bed.

Classified as a perennial, Lamb’s ears has also been known as an herb since the middle-ages.

How to Grow Lambs-Ear

Lamb’s ears is easily grown from seeds or from division of the root-stalk. This plant, with its soft, fuzzy, silver-green or whitish leaves, is grown mostly for its foliage. This plant prefers a sunny, well-drained area with average soil. Lamb’s ears is considered a perennial in zones 4-8. If grown in a warmer zone that is very hot and humid, give the plant partial shade and grow as an annual in the spring.

In very wet areas, the bottom leaves may rot. Cut these from the plants if that is the case. Mulching underneath the plants will sometimes take care of the problem.

Maintaining Lamb’s Ears

Lamb’s ears is very easy to grow and may become invasive. The plant must be attended to every two or three years to keep it at its best. Lamb’s ears tend to grow out from the middle of the plant, which may leave a bare spot. Dig it up and divide it through the middle and this will take care of the problem. Lamb’s ears transplants very easily and will do well as long as it is kept in well-drained soil.

To keep these fuzzy plants in check, dead-head the flowers after they are finished blooming, else the Lamb’s ears will freely spread around the area. This invasive feature makes them perfect for a casual country or cottage garden.

Harvesting

The best time to harvest Lamb’s ears is just before flowering. The leaves may be boiled and served like greens, dried, steeped and made into tea, or eaten raw in salads. Many people prefer not to have fuzzy greens in their salad, but they are safe to consume.

Other Uses for Lamb’s Ears

In this modern age, Lamb’s ears is mostly grown for its wooly leaves and interesting texture, but in the past, Lamb’s ears, a close relative of Betony (Stachys officinalis), has been used for some of the same healing qualities. The long, wooly leaves were used as bandages for cuts and wounds and are said to aid in the healing of injuries.

Various Cultivars

Primrose Heron blooms soft, yellow foliage; Sheila McQueen has larger leaves and does well in extremely warm climates. Silver Carpet is a non-blooming variety of Lamb’s-ears and is very slow growing.

Other Names

Lamb’s Ears is also known as Lamb’s-ear, Wooly woundwort and Wooly Lamb’s-ear.

Sources

Rodale’s Successful Organic Gardening Herbs by Patricia S. Michalak. Rodale Press, Emmaus, Pennsylvania, 1993.

Rodale’s Landscaping With Perennials by Elizabeth Stell. Weldon Russel Pty Ltd, Emmaus, Pennsylvania, 1995.