Lamb’s Ear Care Tips: How to Grow Lamb’s Ear Plants

Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) is an herbaceous perennial plant native to the Middle East. Lamb’s ear plants have gray-green leaves that grow six to twelve inches off the ground. Some varieties of lamb’s ear have pink or purple flower spikes that bloom in the late spring or early summer. Gardeners use lamb’s ear as border plants and as ground cover below other flowering plants. As a drought-tolerant, deer-resistant plant, lamb’s ear is a hardy choice for landscaping.

Explore some of the cultivated varieties of lamb’s ear that you can use in your garden.

1. 1. ‘Big ears’: Also known as ‘Helen von Stein,’ this non-flowering cultivar is larger than a standard lamb’s ear plant.
2. 2. ‘Silver carpet’: This cultivar is notable for its silvery foliage. ‘Silver carpet’ lamb’s ear plants rarely bloom and their leaves grow faster than most other cultivars.
3. 3. ‘Cotton boll’: This cultivar receives its name from white flowers it produces that resemble cotton. ‘Cotton boll’ plants survive humid conditions better than other cultivated varieties of lamb’s ear.
4. 4. ‘Primrose Heron’: The ‘Primrose Heron’ cultivar compliments outdoor gardens with a unique golden hue on its leaves.

Lamb’s ear plants are resilient and thrive with a few basic care techniques.

1. 1. Plant lamb’s ear in full sun or partial shade. Depending on the climate you’re planting in, lamb’s ear thrives in full sunshine with partial shade during hotter afternoons. Lamb’s ear plants are native to a Mediterranean climate and do well in USDA hardiness zones four through eight.
2. 2. Deadhead flowers on your lamb’s ear plants. If you want your plants’ leaves to grow faster and stronger, cut flower stalks from your lamb’s ear plants.
3. 3. Plant lamb’s ear in dry soil. Lamb’s ear can survive in poor soil conditions, making them ideal for rock gardens. Avoid fertilizing new plants and make sure your soil is well-draining before planting.
4. 4. Lay down mulch around the base of the plants. Keep the leaves on your lamb’s ear plants dry by placing mulch underneath them.
5. 5. Thoroughly water new lamb’s ear plants. Water your newly planted lamb’s ear every one to two days for about a week until the plant has established itself. Once established, water your lamb’s ear only when its soil is fully dry. Established lamb’s ear plants require little water to survive.

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