Lamb’s ear: profile, planting & care

Woolly hedgenettle, also known as lamb’s ear, combines perfectly with roses in the flower bed. Moreover, the hardy woolly hedgenettle is not poisonous and can be easily propagated even by beginners.

Woolly hedgenettle (Stachys byzantina) was commonly seen in cottage gardens in the past, and is once again gaining increased attention from amateur gardeners. Combining the woolly silvery woolly hedgenettle with suitable companion plants such as rose (Rosa) makes it appear even more colourful and intense. Together they form a harmonious looking perennial bed. How to optimally plant and care for woolly hedgenettle, we explain here.

Woolly hedgenettle: flowering time, origin and properties

Woolly hedgenettle is also known as lamb’s ear. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family. The perennial, which is even evergreen in mild locations, owes its name to its woolly-silvery leaves that resemble animal ears. The strong hairiness of the leaves is not accidental but is intended to protect the plant from drying out in direct sunlight. It is native to the Near East and the Caucasus.

Depending on the species, the shallow-rooted plant can reach a growth height of between 15 and 60 cm and forms a dense groundcover over the years. Typical for labiates are the opposite leaves on a four-edged shoot axis. The oval-shaped leaves can grow from 25 to 50 cm, depending on the species and variety. The flowering period of woolly hedgenettle is between June and August. There are now several varieties of Stachys byzantina, which are distinguished by their flower colours, ranging from purple-pink to white. Woolly hedgenettle is also known to insects – for example, it provides food for bees, bumblebees and butterflies.

Plants similar to the woolly hedgenettle: The groundcover with its fluffy leaves almost has a unique position in the flower bed. However, the following plants are quite similar to the woolly hedgenettle.

• Common sage (Salvia officinalis)
• White sage (Salvia apiana)
• Mullein (Verbascum)

The most beautiful varieties of woolly hedgenettle

Woolly hedgenettle comes in several varieties, each of which makes a beautiful addition to the garden. Here we present the most widely cultivated varieties:

• ‘Big Ears’: Due to the almost absence of flowering, this variety is mainly used as an ornamental perennial for its foliage. The leaves grow up to 25 cm long and form a closed groundcover. During flowering, the plant grows between 40-60 cm high.

• ‘Cotton Ball’: The fluffy flower balls are reminiscent of cotton flowers, which is where the cultivar name comes from. In bloom, this variety grows 40-60 cm tall and is wonderful dried for decoration in a vase or as an addition to a flower arrangement.

• ‘Silver Carpet’: A perennial with a growth height of only 20 cm, this woolly hedgenettle is ideal as a silvery groundcover. In addition, the plant is considered to be lazy in flowering but instead boasts beautiful leaves.

• ‘Silky Fleece’: Its compact growth makes this variety especially suitable for small areas.

Planting woolly hedgenettle

The optimal location for the woolly hedgenettle is sunny to full sun with a rather dry and sandy soil. It is an undemanding, yet reliable groundcover and prefers a sparse, low-nitrogen substrate. Due to its hairy leaves, woolly hedgenettle does well in dry locations and in no way tolerates waterlogging. In gardens, therefore, open spaces or rocky areas offer the best conditions for planting. Woolly hedgenettle feels most comfortable in larger groups of 10 to 20 plants, where it can thrive.

Planting woolly hedgenettle at a glance:

• Observe the ideal planting time from September to November
• Loosen soil and remove unwanted weeds
• Work some sand into heavy, clayey soils
• If there is a risk of waterlogging in the subsoil, lay a drainage layer of gravel or chippings
• Plant plants only as deep as before in the pot
• Fill cavities with garden soil
• Keep planting distance of 30 cm
• After planting water thoroughly

Planting in a pot is also perfectly possible, provided that you protect the plant from waterlogging by a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot. Here you should go for a nutrient-poor soil. A 1:1:1 ratio of sand, clay granules and potting soil is recommended. Our peat-free and therefore more climate-friendly Plantura Organic All Purpose Compost provides an ideal base for special plants, allowing you to create your desired mix. Stachys byzantina ‘Silky Fleece’ is particularly suitable for cultivation in flower pots or planters due to its small stature.

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Woolly hedgenettle combines well with other ornamental plants. Good neighbours are, for example:

• Roses (Rosa)
• Woman’s mantle (Alchemilla)
• Bergenia (Bergenia)
• Fat hen (Sedum)
• Lavender (Lavandula)

Tip: It is best not to combine woolly hedgenettle with tender, low-competition bedding perennials, as they are easily displaced by the vigorously growing ground cover.

The right care – watering, fertilising and more.

This modest perennial is low-maintenance, undemanding and requires watering only in the case of prolonged heat and drooping leaves. You hardly need to fertilise woolly hedgenettle at all. On the contrary – fertilisation may even make it less willing to bloom. Too much water and fertiliser also have a negative effect on the winter hardiness of woolly hedgenettle.

Stachys byzantina can be cut back in the autumn or spring. In autumn, you should only remove the flower stalks and leave the leaf mass for energy supply. In the spring it is advisable to remove the dead shoots from the previous year to make room for the new greenery.

Is woolly hedgenettle hardy?

The enormously robust plant, which can withstand temperatures down to – 28.8 °C, can easily overwinter and does not require any cover. Winter hardiness is limited, however, on sites that are wet or too nutrient-rich.

In classical times, the leaves are said to have served as a wound dressing due to their size and and ability to absorb. Lamb’s ear is also said to stop bleeding and reduce infections.

Discover which other beautiful ground covers besides lamb’s ear you can easily add to your garden.