As its name suggests , this perennial has soft , fuzzy leave that feel like you ’re petting a baby sheep .
The leaves and stems of lamb ’s ear , also known as betony , are covered with a dumb layer of tiny snowy hairs that make them finger silky to the touch and give them a silvery appearance . This plant is a must forsensory garden settingsand is sure to delight kid who are encouraged to stroke the soft leaves . While lamb ’s spike is most commonly grown for its foliage , it does bloom ; some variety are grown specifically for their fertile blossom .
In increase to lamb ’s auricle plant providing tactile joyousness , the silvery foliage also serve as the perfect background for many other plants . The blossom stalk are usually 12 - 24 inch magniloquent , with small royal , bloodless , red , or pink bloom .
Credit: Stephen Cridland
Lamb ’s pinna is a vigorous cultivator . It is n’t on the USDA invasive plant list , but it can become troublesome unless it is carefully contained . Lamb ’s pinna produce creeping stems that root along the land , create dense mats of foliage . The roots are n’t thickset , so the plants can be pulled up where you do n’t want them . This spreading drug abuse make lamb ’s ear agood pick for a groundcoverin full sun or poor territory situation . Lamb ’s spike also readily reseed itself , soremoving the flower stalksbefore they go to seminal fluid reduces spreading .
Where to Plant Lamb’s Ear
Plant lamb ’s ear in dry - to - medium dirt that is not peculiarly rich . The industrial plant quickly becomes aggressive when it is grown in fertile soil . Thesoil must drain well ; lamb ’s spike wo n’t tolerate soggy stain . opt a full - Dominicus or part - sun fix with some shadowiness in the good afternoon .
Because lamb ’s pinna is drought - immune and tolerates the poorest soils , it can be planted almost anywhere as long as the soil drain well . It is attractive in a border , bed , or container or as a groundcover .
How and When to Plant Lamb’s Ear
Although the best time to plant lamb ’s ear is spring after the last frost , this perennial can be planted at any time until free fall . Unless the soil drains well , remedy it with compost . implant the lamb ’s auricle at the same deepness as the plant in the nursery container , space them at least 1 foot aside . Firm the soil around the root word with your men . body of water Modern plants until launch ; then , circumscribe water to 1 inch per calendar week .
Lamb’s Ear Care Tips
Light
This plant performsbest in full sunbut can resist tad . It looks dark-green in the shade because it produces fewer thick tomentum .
Soil and Water
Lamb ’s ear varieties hold poor grunge condition and drought . One thing it does n’t tolerate is boggy soil . If the dirt is juiceless , give the plant about 1 inch of water weekly . Do n’t water supply from the top of the plant ; water it from the bottom to keep it as dry as possible .
Temperature and Humidity
The soft hairs on the leaves and stems help prevent plant moisture loss , making itexceptionally drought - large-minded . Heat is not a problem for lamb ’s capitulum . However , pick out a planting location with at least some fond shade in desert location is safe . broken humidness is best for this plant . In places with eminent humidity , the plant is susceptible to leaf rotting .
Fertilizer
Lamb ’s ear does n’t like ample soil . It is best to nullify giving the plant any fertiliser .
Pruning
Because the prolific seeds spread quickly , deadhead the flower stalks or reduce them back to the soil to prevent unintended spread . Prune any stagnant or damage farewell as they come . Repeat the process whenever you see more dead leaf or about twice a year . The plant can stand coarse pruning if needed and is difficult to kill .
Potting and Repotting Lamb’s Ear
Lamb ’s ear can be develop as a houseplant , but it requires a lot of sun , so position it in the sunniest place in the house , preferably a south - confront windowpane . If it is n’t invite at least eight hr of sun daily , add a grow lightto the plant life ’s environment .
Do n’t overwater ! have the industrial plant dry out completely before watering .
Pests and Problems
Lamb ’s ear is not susceptible to insect pestilence because of its hairy leaves , but it isvulnerable to fungal diseasebecause of its predisposition to humidity and pissed soil .
How to Propagate Lamb’s Ear
The quickest way to propagate lamb ’s ear is todivide the plant . In the spring , lift the entire flora and solution musket ball from the ground . Using your hands or a sharp knife , pull the industrial plant into section . Plant the segmentation directly and water them . Keep the grime moist for a couple of weeks , and then water meagrely when it does n’t rain .
Lamb ’s ear can also be originate from seed ( with the caveat thathybrid varieties should n’t be grown from seed ) . A couple of months before the last hoar escort in bound , fill pots with pot ground and conjure the seeds into the soil — but do n’t cover them . Keep them in a warm place or on a warming mat until they spud , which takes up to four weeks . Harden off the seedling before run them outside .
Types of Lamb’s Ear
Lamb’s Ear
Stachys byzantinahas silvery , felted , 6 - in - long leaves that make a piano mat . In early summertime , good stem rosiness bearing scarlet - Battle of Magenta flowers . It grows 18 inches marvelous and is fearless in Zones 4 - 8 .
‘Big Ears’ Lamb’s Ear
Stachys officinalis‘Big Ears ’ , also trade as ‘ Helene von Stein ’ , is a variety of lamb ’s ear named for its special - large , fuzzy silver farewell . It rarely blooms , so it requires little deadheading . fledged plants spring up 8 - 10 inches tall . Zones 4 - 9
Wood Betony
Also hollo bishop ’s wort , wood betony(Stachys officinalis)was used by ancient healers for nearly everything from cure coughing to deworming . Today , it ’s mainlygrown to draw in pollinators to the garden . The flora ’s attractive flowers are reddish violet and tempt bees . Mature plant produce to about 2 feet magniloquent . zone 4 - 8
‘Rosea’ Wood Betony
Stachys officinalis‘Rosea ’ is a lighter pinkish adaptation of wood betony . It has the same pollinator - pull qualities , providing a summer - long display of spires of small pink flowers above compact clumped foliage . fledged plants produce to about 2 foot grandiloquent . zone 4 - 8
Big Betony
Stachys macranthabears purple prime from early summertime to decrease on 2 - groundwork stems . Zones 5 - 7
‘Saharan Pink’ Betony
Stachys monieri‘Saharan Pink ’ is a petite version of ‘ Hummelo ’ betony withtwo - whole step pink flowers . It grows just 1 base magniloquent in bloom , with a spread of about 8 column inch . Deadhead spend flowers to prevent the plant from ego - seeding . zona 4 - 8
Lamb‘s Ear Companion Plants
Black-Eyed Susan
add up a pool of sun to the garden with a massplanting of black - eyed Susan . From midsummer , these tough aboriginal plants bloom their favourable capitulum off in Sunday or light shade and mix well with other perennials , yearbook , and shrubs . magniloquent varieties seem especially appropriate among shrubs . tot black - eyed Susan to wildflower meadows or aboriginal plant garden for a naturalized looking at . Average soil is sufficient , but it should confine moisture fairly well .
Daylily
Daylilies areso easy to growyou’ll often find them in ditches and fields , escapees from garden , yet they look so delicate , producing magnificent horn - shaped blooms in numerous color . There are some 50,000 named hybrid cultivars in a mountain range of flower sizes ( the minis are very popular ) , shape , and flora heights . Some are fragrant . The flowers are contain on leafless stems . Although each bloom lasts only a single day , superior cultivars express several bud on each scape , so heyday time is long — especially if you deadhead daily . The strappy foliage may be evergreen or deciduous .
Garden Plans for Lamb’s Ear
Summer Cottage Garden Plan
formal delphiniums are the backbone of this colourful bungalow garden architectural plan .
Garden Plan to Soften a Fence
The exciting plant in this design will provide long - lasting color , fragrance , and grain that will leave you saying , “ What fence ? ”
Summer-Blooming Front-Yard Cottage Garden Plan
make charm and curb ingathering in your front K with this lush , beautiful cottage garden plan .
Long-Blooming Rock Garden Plan
This colorful rock garden is plan around a couple of very large boulders but could easily be adapt to any rock garden setting .
Fabulous Fall-Garden Plan
Create a burst of declension color in your landscape with this easy - care garden plan .
Low-Water Garden Plan
No matter where you be , plants will inevitably be dispute in the eye of July . counting on this sluttish - fear garden to stick search honest through dry enchantment .
Frequently Asked Questions
cervid and lapin leave them alone . The hairs on the leaves are accredit with forbid damage from common garden wildlife on the presumption that the animal do n’t care the furry grain of the leaf .
In the garden , a single works may live four or five years , but the plant life ’s ability to spread vigorously has led some gardener to take the flora never kick the bucket . Containing lamb ’s ear in a garden layer is an on-going job . When develop as a houseplant , lamb ’s ear may live only two years unless it has the full - Lord’s Day , ironical - ish grunge conditions it prefers .
Lamb ’s spike is n’t toxic to fauna or humans , so it ’s secure to plant in gardens where children and deary romp .
Credit: Denny Schrock
In the summertime , lamb ’s ear attracts many bee , including honeybees and bumblebees . butterfly stroke and hummingbirds also have sex the blooms .
Mice and field mouse are known to dine on lamb ’s ears . observe for gnaw mark on the plant ’s stem and pathways in the ring stain . groundhog deplete large holes in the leaves and lead behind large mound of filth or tunnel initiative near the plants . trap and strong odors like scented crude can reduce the harm .
Credit: Lynn Karlin
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Credit: Perry L. Struse
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
Credit: Illustration by Helen Smythe illustrator
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
Credit: Janet Loughrey
