Lamb's Ear
Stachys byzantina
Lamb's ear forms spreading mats of thick, silvery, velvety leaves that children love to touch, with spikes of small purple flowers in summer. It is perfect for edging sunny borders.
Photo: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT · CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Watering
Low
Water only in long dry spells; wet foliage and soil cause rot.
Soil
Well-drained, poor to average soil; pH 6.0–8.0.
Temperature and humidity
-30–35 °C · Low humidity
Feeding
No feeding needed.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by division
Remove flower spikes for neater foliage, and tidy rotten leaves after wet weather.
Lamb's ear is not toxic.
Top Cultivation Tips
'Big Ears' is a non-flowering, mildew-resistant variety.
Struggles in humid summers.
Divide in spring.
Hardy in USDA zones 4–8.
Common problems
Powdery mildew
A fungal disease that coats leaves, buds and young shoots with a white, flour-like dust, weakening the plant and spoiling flowers and fruit.
How to treat it →DiseaseRoot rot
Roots decay in waterlogged soil, so the plant wilts and yellows even though the soil is wet.
How to treat it →
