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Herbaceous Perennial

Stachys byzantina

lamb's ear

A carpeting, evergreen perennial, with thick, soft, oblong-elliptic leaves and stems densely white-woolly. Basal leaves are to 10cm long, in rosettes, flowering stems erect to 50cm in height. Flowers are purplish or pink, sometimes appearing striped, arranged in many-flowered whorls in an interrupted spike in summer. Several selections with varying leaf and flower colour are available. A valuable foliage plant

Other common names

bear's ear
bunnies' ears
see moremouse ear
rabbit ear
woolly woundwort
cat's ear
lamb's tongue
lamb's wool

Synonyms

Stachys lanata Jacq.
Stachys olympica

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing

Exposure

Exposed

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Lamiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Matforming
Genus: Stachys can be annuals, perennials or shrubs, with paired leaves which are sometimes unpleasantly aromatic, and erect spikes or racemes of whorled, 2-lipped flowers
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Caucasus to Iran

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame in autumn or spring. Propagate by division or remove rooted sections in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds
Garden edging
Ground cover
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

No pruning required - remove flowers to prolong the life of the plant

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and caterpillars

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews

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