Lamb's Ears

Wooly Lamb's Ear. Named for its thick and silvery-green, soft-to-touch, velvety foliage. It performs well as a border plant, has a ground cover effect, and adds a compelling color and texture to the garden. Sends out stout spikes of purple blooms in mid to late summer that are attractive to bees and other pollinators. It also has rich history of medicinal use: bandages for wound healing, for its sedative and antibacterial properties, and has even been used as a natural toilet paper. Easy to grow, and kids love it, as it begs to be touched.  Prefers dry, well-drained soil and is drought-tolerant. Grows to 10-16”. 

50 seeds

PLANTING

Stachys byzantina

Perennial, zones 4-7

Germination: 21-35 days

Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 65-70ºF

Seed Planting Depth: Sow on the surface and press into the soil

Starting Indoors:  Start indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost. Provide 65-70ºF soil temperature for germination. Transplant after the last frost, 10-16” apart

Sowing Outdoors: Direct sowing is not recommended

Growth Habit: Compact mound, low spreading and mat-forming

Height and Width: 10-16” x 10-16”  

Spacing: 10-16” apart

Light Needs: Full sun to light shade, especially in areas with really hot summers 

Soil Needs: Average to dry, well-drained, sandy loam to rocky soil

Approximate days to flower from seed: second year, blooming mid-to-late summer.   

Uses: Cottage, perennial and rock gardens, edging or border plant, mass ground cover, underplanting for shrubs, containers,  heat and drought tolerant,deer-resistant, attracts beneficals

Care: Avoid overwatering which can cause root rot. Deadhead spent blooms to keep the plant from self-seeding. Divide plants every 3-4 years