Few plants charm gardeners quite like Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantina). Known for its velvety, silver-gray foliage that looks and feels like a lamb's ear, this perennial groundcover adds irresistible texture and softness to garden beds, borders, and pathways.
A favorite in cottage gardens and children's play spaces, Lamb's Ear thrives in full sun, is drought-tolerant once established, and brings year-round beauty with minimal fuss.
With many varieties available, each brings its own flair, from large leaves to bright lime tones, making them excellent companions for flowering annuals, mixed perennial borders, shrubs, and even bring in the pollinators to help pollinate your fruit trees.
- Touchable Landscaping
- Lamb's Ear Varieties at Nature Hills
- Care & Maintenance
- A Soft Spot in the Garden
Touchable Landscaping
Lamb's Ear is a true garden workhorse with a whimsical twist. Its woolly leaves not only provide visual contrast but also a tactile experience that invites children and adults alike to touch. Use it to:
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Soften pathways, edges, and borders: The silvery carpet naturally outlines walkways, creating an inviting, fairy-tale feel.
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Companion Plant: Pair it with Rose bushes, Catmint, Salvia, or Russian Sage for a breathtaking color and texture contrast.
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Groundcover and erosion control: Spreading mats help suppress weeds and hold soil in place, making it excellent for sunny slopes.
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Play up color contrasts: The chartreuse foliage of Key Lime Lamb's Ear glows when planted near deep purple Heuchera or ornamental grasses like Karl Foerster.
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Children's gardens and sensory spaces: Its soft leaves make it a perfect addition to kid-friendly garden areas.
- Cottage, rock, and xeriscape gardens: Its drought-tolerant nature and low-maintenance habit make it adaptable for dry, sunny landscapes.
Lamb's Ear Varieties at Nature Hills
Not all Lamb's Ear plants are the same! Each variety brings its own personality and flair to the garden. Here's a closer look at three you'll find at Nature Hills:
Classic Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantina)
The traditional favorite, classic Lamb's Ear is the variety most gardeners think of first! With fuzzy, silvery-gray leaves that truly resemble the ear of a lamb, this plant is an instant charmer. In late spring to mid-summer, it sends up tall, fuzzy flower spikes covered in tiny purple blooms, adored by bees and butterflies. Its spreading habit makes it an excellent choice for soft edging along pathways or as a filler in perennial borders.
- Best For: Pollinator gardens, cottage gardens, and pathways
- Height/Spread: 12-18 inches tall, spreads 12-24 inches
- Special Note: Produces more blooms than other varieties
Helen Von Stein Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantina 'Helen Von Stein')
Sometimes called "Big Ear", this variety features broad, oversized leaves that create a lush, silvery mat. Unlike the classic type, Helen Von Stein rarely flowers, meaning its energy goes into producing foliage that's even larger and softer to the touch!
Its tidy, clumping habit and resilience make it a top choice for mass plantings and low-maintenance landscapes.
- Best For: Groundcover, large sweeps of texture, and kids' sensory gardens
- Height/Spread: 10-12 inches tall, spreads 18-24 inches
- Special Note: Stays neater and less likely to flop than traditional Lamb's Ear
Key Lime Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantina 'Key Lime')
A vibrant twist on the classic, Key Lime Lamb's Ear boasts chartreuse-to-lime-green foliage with the same velvety texture. This variety shines as a bright accent plant, lighting up shady corners or providing contrast against deep greens, purples, and burgundies in the garden. Its smaller size makes it ideal for container gardening as well as edging.
- Best For: Color contrast, modern landscapes, and container plantings
- Height/Spread: 8-12 inches tall, spreads 12-18 inches
- Special Note: Stunning contrast next to Heuchera, Hostas, or dark ornamentals and grasses!
Care & Maintenance
Caring for Lamb's Ear is refreshingly easy. Here's how to keep it looking its softest and healthiest:
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Sun & Soil - Best in full sun but tolerant of light shade. Provide well-drained soil; too much moisture may cause root rot.
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Watering - Once established, Lamb's Ear is drought-tolerant. Water moderately during the first growing season, then only during prolonged dry spells.
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Pruning & Grooming - Snip off spent flower spikes (known as deadheading) to keep plants tidy, though many gardeners prefer the dramatic spiky blooms in mid-summer (and your pollinators will thank you, too!). Trim back ragged leaves in late winter or early spring to encourage fresh growth. Because Lamb's Ear is evergreen in mild climates, either trim back the entire plant in the early spring or just trim out older, leggier growth.
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Spacing - Give it room to spread 12-18 inches. Good air circulation helps prevent powdery mildew.
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Fertilizer - Not a heavy feeder; too much fertilizer leads to floppy growth. A light spring application of balanced fertilizer or compost is plenty.
- Winter Care - Evergreen in warmer zones, but this perennial may die back to the ground in colder areas, returning reliably in spring. Mulch lightly to protect crowns.
A Soft Spot in the Garden
Want a tactile garden? Lamb's Ear has you covered!
From cottage to sensory gardens, Lamb's Ear brings both touchable softness and dependable structure! Just tempting you to reach out and pet it, this is a hard-working, practical groundcover and a playful perennial ornamental.
Its ability to thrive with little care, resist drought, and provide year-round texture makes it one of the most versatile perennials you can grow. We're sure there's a Lamb's Ear perfect for your landscape!
Happy Planting!
