- Sunlight. Lamb’s ears does best in full sun where it will get hours and hours of sunlight daily. ...
- Watering. Stachys byzantina likes well draining soil. Too much water will result in root rot. I originally had two clumps of the plant, one on either side of a pathway.
- Flowers. The plant flowers in late spring and throughout the summer months. Cut back any flowering stems close to ground level after they flower to encourage new stems and leaves.
- Leaves. Children will love the texture of the leaves of Stachys byzantina. They are velvety soft with a wooly texture and are silver gray to pale green in color.
- When to plant. Plant lamb’s ear in the early spring and space the plants about 2-3 feet apart so that it will have room to spread.
- Propagation. Lamb’s ears grows readily from divisions. Every 3 or 4 years divide the plant in early spring, just as the new growth begins.
- Cold Hardiness. Lamb’s ears is cold hardy in zones 4-8. Intense heat in the warmer zones can make growing it a challenge unless you have a lot of afternoon shade ...
- Uses. Stachys byzantina makes a wonderful ground cover. It is a dense, low growing plant that spreads in a garden bed if it gets the right conditions, so it works ...
- Wildlife. Lamb’s ear is attractive to garden visitors. Bees, and other insects such as butterflies, and hummingbirds love it.
How do you plant Stachys byzantina?
Lamb's Ear Care Stachys byzantina is extremely easy to grow in dry to medium-moisture soil in a sunny location, but they can be excessively aggressive in soil that is too rich. Because they spread quickly, plant them about 18 inches apart. Avoid overwatering them, and if the leaves decline in the heat of summer, pick them off.
What is Stachys byzantina?
Stachys byzantina is a native to Turkey, Armenia and Iran and is also known as hedge nettle. It is actually a form of perennial herb. In Brazil it is grown and used for its medicinal properties. The name lamb’s ears comes from the shape of the leaves and the fuzziness of the coating on them, which resembles the ears of baby lambs.
How to prune Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s ears)?
How to prune Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s ears). After flowering cut the flowered stems back to the ground. Alternatively, leave the flowered stems for winter structure.
Do bees like Stachys byzantina?
Bees and bumblebees love blooms of Stachys byzantina. Stachys byzantina bears soft, woolly spikes, topped with tiny, pink flowers above rosettes of soft silvery-green leaves. It blooms over a long period from June to September. ‘Big Ears’ is similar in appearance but with larger oval leaves.
Do you cut back Stachys?
No pruning and training is required, apart from deadheading and cutting down in autumn to winter, ready for fresh growth in spring. It's easiest to dig up and divide Stachys byzantina, Betonica macrantha, Betonica officinalis in spring. Divide up and replant younger rosettes, spacing them about 30cm (1ft) apart.
Should lambs ear be cut back?
In summer, each mound of Lamb's Ear will send up spiky purple flowers. Cut it back in late fall to prevent the fuzzy leaves from rotting. Lamb's Ear will fill in gaps and bare spaces in the front of a garden bed and will hide the leafless skeletons of roses.
Does lambs ear come back every year?
Evergreen in warm climates, leaves shrivel and die in colder winters. However, the plant doesn't die unless planted in a boggy area. Remove desiccated foliage as new leaves emerge in spring. Lamb's ears make an attractive edging for beds and are wonderful planted where people can walk and touch their foliage.
What to do with lambs ear after it blooms?
Most Lamb's ear plants will flower in late spring to early summer, although they are grown for the interesting foliage and the flowers are considered insignificant. It is advisable to deadhead, or remove, the flowers because the plants do self-seed prolifically.
Should I cut Lambs ear to the ground?
Generally, the primary problem with lamb's ear is its tendency to spread throughout your garden, so it's not generally necessary to do anything at all to promote its growth. As part of a regular garden fall cleanup, cut back your lamb's ear to the ground. It will send up new shoots in spring.
How do you take care of lambs ears?
Once established, lamb's ear requires little maintenance; therefore, the care of lamb's ear is also easy. Water only when the soil is significantly dry. Watch the foliage carefully in wet sites (from high rainfall) or regions prone to humid conditions, as this can lead to rotting.
Will lambs ears spread?
While lamb's ear isn't invasive in the sense that is will pop-up away from where it is planted, it does spread to cover a large area eventually if its growth is not curbed.
How do I get my Lambs ear to bloom?
Make sure that the lamb's ear isn't too shaded by taller garden plants. While a little shade is appreciated in the hotter summer months, too much shade can cause the plant to stop blooming and die back. Trim surrounding plants and shrubs to ensure that the lamb's ear plants receive adequate sunlight.
Does Lambs ear like sun or shade?
Lamb's ear varieties can withstand poor soil conditions and drought. One thing it will not tolerate, however, is soggy soil. This plant performs best in full-sun conditions, but it can withstand some shade. The plant will look greener in the shade because it will produce fewer dense hairs.
Why do they clip lambs ears?
An earmark is a cut or mark in the ear of livestock animals such as cattle, deer, pigs, goats, camels or sheep, made to show ownership, year of birth or sex.
Can you propagate Lambs ear from cuttings?
Propagation. Lamb's ears can be propagated by dividing existing plants or sowing seeds. While it can be grown from cuttings, the success rate for this propagation method is low, and it's just as easy to divide mature plants instead.
Can lambs ears be divided?
After 3 to 4 years, lamb's ears plants may die out in the center and need dividing. Divide in spring, removing the whole plant and separating out fist-sized divisions to replant or give a way. Lamb's ears spread faster in warmer areas and may need to be divided more frequently to keep them from spreading too far.
Why do they cut lambs ears?
An earmark is a cut or mark in the ear of livestock animals such as cattle, deer, pigs, goats, camels or sheep, made to show ownership, year of birth or sex.
How tall does lambs ear grow?
The flower stalks are generally 12-18 inches tall, with small purple, white, red, or pink blooms. The soft hairs on the leaves and stems help prevent plant moisture loss, making it exceptionally drought tolerant.
Why is my lambs ear turning brown?
Why is my lamb's ear turning brown? Summer heat is the main reason why Lamb's ear plant's leaves turn brown. Summer heat coupled with high humidity causes the leaves to turn brown. Poorly draining soil and Fungal leaf spots also cause the leaves of Lamb's ear plant to turn brown.
How does Lambs Ear spread?
Individual plants will quickly spread to about 18 inches in width and then slowly spread out from there. Every few years you can divide the clump to keep it contained in the space allotted for it and to provide new plants for other locations in the garden.
Where is Stachys byzantina native to?
It is easy to grow, has a lovely texture and the prettiest flowers on tall graceful stems. Stachys byzantina is a native to Turkey, Armenia and Iran and is also known as hedge nettle. It is actually a form of perennial herb. In Brazil it is grown and used for its medicinal properties.
What color are Stachys byzantina leaves?
Children will love the texture of the leaves of Stachys byzantina. They are velvety soft with a wooly texture and are silver gray to pale green in color. The shape resembles a lamb’s ear which is where the common name comes from. The plant tends to be evergreen but can die back and get ragged looking in the dormant months ...
Can Stachys byzantina be seeded?
After division, add some organic matter to the soil and mulch around the plant to retain moisture and help with weed control. Stachys byzantina also grows easily from seed and is also self seeding.
How big is Stachys byzantina?
Stachys byzantina 'Helen von Stein': This is another non-bloomer. It is a slightly larger plant, at 10 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide. It is also known as 'Big Lamb Ear'.
Does Stachys byzantina bloom?
Stachys byzantina 'Silver Carpet': This cultivar does not bloom at all and is grown only for its attractive leaves. Stachys byzantina 'Helen von Stein': This is another non-bloomer. It is a slightly larger plant, at 10 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide. It is also known as 'Big Lamb Ear'.
How to prune Stachys byzantina?
How to prune Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s ears). After flowering cut the flowered stems back to the ground. Alternatively, leave the flowered stems for winter structure.
When does Stachys byzantina bloom?
It blooms over a long period from June to September.
Is Stachys byzantina good for a sunny spot?
Stachys byzantina is ideal for a dry, sunny spot as it copes well with dry conditions. It’s also an excellent groundcover plant. Bees and bumblebees love blooms of Stachys byzantina.
