The illustrated growing guide
Lamb's Ear
Stachys byzantina
Family Lamiaceae
Est. zones 4-8
The plant every child wants to pet — leaves like soft silver velvet, in a spreading mat. Grow it for the foliage (the flower spikes are optional and some shear them off). It hates humidity and wet feet, melting into mush in soggy soil, so give it sun and sharp drainage. 'Helene von Stein' is the best non-flowering, rot-resistant type.
Full Sun to Light Shade
Low water
Fast growth
Attracts beesI
Overview
Will lamb's ear suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what lamb's ear actually needs.
Hardy inZones 4-8Lamb's Ear at a glance
Common lamb's ear problems
- Almost none
- Crown Rot in humid/wet conditions (the main issue)
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Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow lamb's ear: light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate lamb's ear
When to spray lamb's ear
Growing season. Cut off mushy leaves; improve airflow and drainage.
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The year
What lamb's ear asks for, month by month.
The lamb's ear year, month by month
BloomPruneWhat each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
- Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.
The lamb's ear year as text
- Jan quiet month
- Feb quiet month
- Mar pruning
- Apr pruning
- May pruning
- Jun bloom
- Jul bloom
- Aug bloom
- Sep quiet month
- Oct quiet month
- Nov quiet month
- Dec quiet month
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
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Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Lamb's Ear in the garden system
- Groundcover layer perennial
- Dynamic accumulator
- Nectary/insectary
- Living mulch
What lamb's ear is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxickids love petting it
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
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Cultivars
Named varieties of lamb's ear, ruled as a catalogue.
Best lamb's ear varieties & cultivars
'Big Ears'/'Helene von Stein' (rarely flowers, best foliage); 'Silver Carpet'; 'Cotton Boll'
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Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to lamb's earyet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
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Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
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Questions
Lamb's Ear questions, answered straight.
Is lamb's ear safe for kids and pets?
Lamb's Ear is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. One caveat on this one: kids love petting it. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
How do you propagate lamb's ear?
Division or seed.
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Elsewhere
Where lamb's ear sits in the library.
Nasturtium
Juniper
Blue Fescue
Hens and Chicks