Plant field guide
Lamb's Ear
Irresistibly soft, fuzzy silver leaves that children love to touch. Excellent edging and ground cover plant.
Growing requirements
- Scientific name
- Stachys byzantina
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- low
- Height
- 6 in (15 cm) – 18 in (46 cm)
- Spread
- 18 in (46 cm) – 36 in (91 cm)
- Spacing
- 12 in (30 cm)
- Hardiness zones & minimum temperature
- USDA 4–8; average annual extreme minimum from -30°F (-34.4°C). Hardiness does not predict local frost dates.
- Difficulty
- easy
Planting & seasonal timing
Northern Hemisphere planting months: not yet verified in our database.
Northern Hemisphere pruning months: March.
For the Southern Hemisphere, these seasonal windows shift approximately six months. Check your local frost forecast, soil temperature, and species requirements; calendar months are not a guarantee of planting safety.
Can rot in humid climates. 'Helen von Stein' is a large non-flowering variety. Divide every few years.
Pruning
Remove dead or rotted leaves in spring. Cut flower stalks if non-flowering look is preferred.
Fertilizer
None needed
Does not need fertilizer
Mulch
Minimal mulch. Needs good air circulation.