Plant field guide
Silver Carpet Lamb's Ear
Non-flowering selection of Lamb's Ear prized for its thick, velvety silver-white foliage. Unlike the common species, Silver Carpet rarely sends up flower stalks, keeping a clean, low mat of soft, touchable leaves. A favorite with children and a standout textural accent.
Growing requirements
- Scientific name
- Stachys byzantina 'Silver Carpet'
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- low
- Height
- 4 in (10 cm) – 8 in (20 cm)
- Spread
- 18 in (46 cm) – 36 in (91 cm)
- Spacing
- Not recorded
- 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, April.
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.
Excellent drainage is essential; rots in wet soil or humid conditions. Cut back any tattered foliage in spring. Divide every 2-3 years when centers thin out. Very drought tolerant once established.
Pruning
Remove winter-damaged leaves in early spring. Pull out any flower stalks that appear. Divide clumps every 2-3 years.
Fertilizer
None needed
Does not need fertilizer
Mulch
Gravel mulch preferred. Avoid organic mulch against crowns.