How to Grow Lamb's Ear Plant

 

The scientifically name of lamb’s ear plant is Stachys byzantina and the plant is a favorite for growing with kids. The lamb’s ear plant is an easy-care perennial plant that has velvety soft, wooly evergreen leaves that are silver to gray-green in color. The foliage is as well similar in shape to that of a real lamb’s ears, hence its name. If the plant is actually left to bloom in summer, the plant will produce spikes of pink to purple colored flowers too. Besides enjoying the plants pleasant appearance, fuzzy foliage, the leaves of the plant can also be used as a “band-aid” of sorts for healing wounds and in helping painful bee stings. Continue reading to learn how to grow and care for lamb’s ear plants.

Growing Lamb’s Ear Plants

If you can actually provide the suitable conditions, growing the lamb’s ear plant in the garden is very simple. The plant is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones four through eight and the plant’s origin is Middle East making it superb for growing in drought-like conditions. Actually, the lamb’s ear plants are tolerant enough to grow almost anywhere. The lamb’s ear plants should be grown in full sun or partial shade. Although the plant can tolerate the poorest of soils, it should always be well-draining as the plant dislikes overly moist soil. This is especially true of shady areas. The Lamb’s ear plants have many uses in the garden, though the plant is grown primarily for its foliage. The Lamb’s ear plant is low-growing, the mat-forming foliage makes it ideal for use as a ground cover. They can be planted in open borders alongside other perennial plants or you can grow them in containers.

Planting Lamb’s Ears

To plant Lamb’s ear is actually very easy and it most takes place in spring. Make sure that the planting holes are not deeper than the pots they were originally growing in. To prevent overcrowding you can space the Lamb’s ear plants at least a foot (30 cm.) or so apart. Although the lamb’s ear plants don’t require much in the way of fertilizer, you can easily add a bit of compost to the holes prior to planting if you desire. Make sure you water the new plants thoroughly but do not waterlog.

Lamb’s Ear Plant Care

Once the plants are established, the plants require little maintenance; therefore, the care of lamb’s ear plants is easy. Water the plant only when the soil is significantly dry. Look at the foliage carefully in wet sites (from high rainfall) or regions prone to humid conditions, as this can lead to rotting. Spreading mulch under the leaves can also help to prevent this. Trim the lamb’s ear plant back in the spring and also prune out the brown leaves as needed. To keep the lamb’s ear plants from spreading you can deadhead spent blooms. In addition to self-seeding, the lamb’s ear plants can also be propagated through division in spring or fall.