Stachys byzantina
Stachys byzantina
Lamb’s ears
- Position: full sun
- Soil: well-drained soil
- Flowering period: June to September
- Height: 20-70cm
- Foliage: semi-evergreen
- Hardiness: fully hardy
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.
Varieties
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.
Stachys byzantina ‘Big Ears’
‘Big Ears’ is similar in appearance but with larger oval leaves. It also produces pink-purple flowers. Expect a height of 60cm and a spread of 45cm.
Stachys byzantina ‘Silver Carpet’
This variety is primarily grown for its silvery, greyish-white leaves. It’s a great foliage plant to 20cm tall. Wonderful for softening hard corners. ‘Silver Carpet’ rarely flowers.
Stachys byzantina ‘Cotton Ball’ Stachys byzantina ‘Big Ears’
Pruning
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.
To keep the appearance of the plant remove damaged and dead leaves in spring just before new growth appears.
Winter care
Does Lamb’s ears die in winter. In mild areas, it will often retain most of its foliage. The plant dislikes excessive winter wet.
Plant combination
Stachys byzantina looks good planted with Achillea, Agastache, Erysium ‘Bowles Mauve’, Lavandula angustifolia
Lavandula angustifolia
