The best place to plant lamb’s ears is in a sunny to partially shaded spot in the garden. It prefers well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 8.0. You can amend the soil with aged compost or aged manure before planting.
Lamb’s ears plant prefers cold climates, so if you live in areas with hot summers, it is best to plant them in full shade. Water the plant regularly during the spring and summer months to keep soil moist.
Make sure to trim off any wilted or dead leaves to keep the plant looking its best.
How fast does Lambs Ear spread?
Lambs Ear is a fast-growing ground cover that spreads rapidly. It has trailing stems that are covered in fuzzy silver-green leaves. Its leaves are often dried and used in crafts such as stuffing pillows and dried arrangements.
It can spread up to a foot each year and can form large masses of foliage in no time at all. Lambs Ear can be planted in spring or fall and will form a living carpet in just a few months. It can be grown in a variety of soils and can even tolerate poor soil conditions.
It is also tolerant of light shade, but can tolerate full sun as well. Lambs Ear is very low maintenance and hardy, making it a great choice for landscaping. It is often used in rock gardens and as ground cover in hard-to-mow areas.
How much sun does lambs ears need?
Lambs Ears (Stachys byzantina) is a low-maintenance, sun loving perennial that prefers full sun to part shade. While it tolerates shade, more sun will produce denser foliage and more abundant blooms.
Lamb’s ears can handle strong light and full sun as long as it has access to plenty of water. Giving them at least six hours of direct sun a day will give you the best results and the most vibrant blooms.
When planted in full sun, make sure to water frequently and evenly to prevent heat stress and avoid wilting. In hotter climates, some afternoon shade may be beneficial for these plants, especially during the hottest months of the year.
Proper placement and management of water can go a long way in helping keep your lambs ears vibrant and healthy all season.
Should Lambs ear be cut back?
Yes, Lambs Ear should be cut back. This can help promote healthy growth and keep the plant looking neat and attractive. In the spring, it’s important to prune the stems of the plants that have flowered the previous year or have become woody.
This makes room for new growth that should be forming at the base of the plant. Pruning will also maintain a smaller, more manageable size and prevent woody stalks from becoming too tall and leggy. When pruning, make cuts at an angle just above a leaf node.
After flowering, snip off the dead flower spikes to further encourage new growth. Additionally, pruning can help deter disease by limiting the number of places where moisture can collect and creating better air circulation, which can prevent mold and fungal growth.
Pruning can help the Lambs Ear become denser, with less leaf crowding, making it look healthier and more attractive.
Does Lambs ear come back every year?
Yes, lambs ear typically comes back every year in perennial gardens. Although it is an herbaceous perennial, it can act like an annual in cooler climates. Depending on your location and the way you take care of your plants, lambs ear typically returns with ease.
To ensure it comes back each year, it’s best to plant it early in the spring season, mulch heavily to protect it from winter temperatures, and keep weeds away. It also helps to keep the soil moist and well-drained to promote healthy growth.
If you take care of your garden properly, you should be able to enjoy the beautiful, furry leaves of lambs ear in your garden for years to come.
What can I plant next to Lamb’s ears?
Planting Lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina) in a garden can be a great way to add a soft, attractive textural element to your landscape. As a perennial, it is easy to care for and looks great with most other plants.
However, when considering what to plant next to the Lamb’s ears, you want to make sure that it is a good companion for this distinctive plant. A few good companions for Lamb’s ears include:
1. Sedum: Sedum is a low maintenance, drought-resistant groundcover that works especially well next to Lamb’s ears. Its succulent leaves create a contrast with the soft fuzzy gray foliage of the Lamb’s ears.
2. False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides): This native plant has daisy-like flowers that appear from June to August, adding a bright pop of color to the garden.
3. Columbine (Aquilegia): Columbine comes in many colors, including white, yellow, pink, and blue, and its unique flowers make it a great companion for Lamb’s ears.
4. Dwarf Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus): This evergreen shrub features bright red flowers that bloom from spring to summer, making it a great choice for a colorful companion to Lamb’s ears.
5. Ornamental grasses: Ornamental grasses come in a wide variety of sizes and colors, providing a different kind of structure and texture to your garden. Many types of grasses, such as Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca) and Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora), have a tendency to look great next to Lamb’s ears.
How do you prune a Lambs ear?
Pruning a Lambs Ear can be done to help keep it looking neat and to encourage more bushy growth. Pruning is best done during the late spring or early summer months when the plant is in an active growth period.
Start the pruning process by cutting back the tallest and longest stems, cutting them back up to two-thirds of their original length. This will help the plant become more bushier by encouraging the growth of more side branches.
After cutting back the main stems, you can then prune back any dead, discolored, or overly long side shoots. If you have any dead flowers, remove these as well. It is important to avoid pruning away healthy live foliage and flowers, as this will reduce the overall vitality of the Lambs Ear.
Is Lambs ear toxic to dogs?
No, lambs ear is not toxic to dogs. Although it is not specifically listed as a toxic plant by the ASPCA, the hairy texture of the plant can cause gastrointestinal upset if ingested, so caution should still be used when handling and planting this herb.
If you think your dog may have ingested any part of the plant, it is best to take them to the veterinarian for a check-up and to rule out any other potential issues. Additionally, if planting lambs ear around your home, make sure to plant it in an area that your dog cannot access as its furry texture can be tempting for animals to chew on.
Should you deadhead Lambs ear?
Yes, deadheading Lambs Ear is a great way to encourage a full, lush and attractive looking plant. Deadheading Lambs Ear encourages additional blooms and helps the plant to look full. The process is easy and requires you to simply remove any spent blooms or wilted foliage whenever they develop.
This process can be done by hand, or you can use a pair of scissors or garden shears to get rid of any dead foliage. It is best to deadhead Lambs Ear regularly, as this will ensure a healthy, vibrant-looking plant.
Additionally, you will want to keep water levels consistent and deadhead regularly to maintain a vigorous and attractive looking plant.
Will lambs ear grow in shade?
Yes, lambs ear (Stachys byzantina) is able to grow in areas that receive only partial shade. Lambs ear is ideal for planting in locations that receive morning sun, but some level of shade throughout the rest of the day.
The plant is able to adapt to less light than other plants, so it is a great choice for those shady spots. Lambs ear enjoys well-drained soil, plenty of moisture and humidity, and supplemental water during dry periods.
Not only will it tolerate shade, it also makes an excellent ground or edging cover that helps suppress weeds. When planted in its preferred conditions, lambs ear will offer a beautiful display of its wooly silver leaves.
Is Lambs ear invasive?
Yes, lambs ear (Stachys byzantina) is an invasive species in many areas of the United States. It spreads rapidly and can rapidly dominate an area, eliminating other species and preventing the ecosystem from achieving its natural balance.
In some places, lambs ear is even considered to be a noxious weed and is listed as regulated by the local government.
It has been reported that lambs ear can self-propagate and produce thousands of seeds every year. It can be difficult to control once it begins to spread and can quickly spread to neighboring properties via its underground rhizome that can extend up to 3 feet deep into the ground.
With this aggressive spread rate and its ability to survive in virtually any climate, lambs ear can take over large areas very quickly and can be difficult to eliminate.
The best way to prevent the spread of lambs ear is to take preventative measures such as removing its flowers before they can produce seeds and regularly monitoring the area for its spread. Additionally, it is also important to plant species of plants that can compete with the invasive lambs ear, such as perennial grasses.
Additionally, chemical treatments can be used on lambs ear if necessary, though these should only be applied as a last resort option.
Why is my Lambs ear wilting?
Your Lambs ear may be wilting for any number of reasons. The most common issues that can cause wilting include inadequate sunlight, overwatering, underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, pests, or diseases.
The first step to take is to review the care needs of your Lambs ear plant. This plant prefers full or partial sun and moderate watering with regular misting. Overwatering is a common cause of wilting.
Make sure you’re not overwatering your Lambs ear by checking the soil before watering and only watering when the top inch or so of soil is dry. If the soil is still wet, your plant doesn’t need more water yet.
Underwatering can also cause wilting, especially if the plant hasn’t been watered in some time. Inspect the soil and if it’s dry give it a deep water. Let the soil dry slightly before further watering, as this will help reduce chances of overwatering.
Be sure to look for signs of nutrient deficiencies, pests and diseases, as these can also cause wilting. A nutrient deficiency can cause yellowing of foliage followed by wilting. Insects and diseases can cause the plant to become stressed and weak, leading to wilting.
If you suspect a pest or disease, remove the affected leaves and treat with a recommended fungicide or insecticide.
Finally, it’s important to make sure your plant is receiving sufficient sunlight. Lambs ear typically needs full to partial sun, so find an area that gets plenty of sunlight without scorching the leaves.
If you’re still unsure what is causing the wilting, it’s best to seek help from a professional. They can provide a more detailed examination and advise you on the best way to get your Lambs ear healthy again.
Can you keep Lambs ear indoors?
Yes, you can keep Lambs ear indoors. Lambs ear (Stachys Byzantha) is an attractive, fuzzy-leaved, silver foliage, that’s perfect for adding texture to your home décor. It’s an easy-care, low maintenance plant that grows in either full sun or partial shade.
When grown indoors, it does best in a well-lit spot where it receives indirect, yet bright light and is away from any direct drafts or heat sources. The plant should be placed in a container with good drainage, and soil should be kept evenly moist but not overly wet.
In the winter, water less and allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings. To keep a neat appearance, it’s best to trim off any dead or wilted leaves as needed. Lambs ear indoors requires very little effort, so it is a great choice for those starting to explore houseplant gardening.
Is there Lambs ear that doesn’t bloom?
Yes, there is Lambs Ear that doesn’t bloom. Common Lambs Ear (Stachys byzantina) is a low-maintenance perennial herb commonly grown for its soft, wooly, silver-green foliage that does not produce flowers.
Lambs Ear foliage has been used in herb gardens since the 1500s, because of its attractive texture and its medicinal use as a styptic agent. Bouquets of Lambs Ear foliage add soft shapes and numerous shades of green to flower arrangements, and their characteristics make them suitable companions to showier flowers.
Do all varieties of lambs ear bloom?
No, not all varieties of lambs ear bloom. Lambs ear contains several species, most of which are cultivated for their fuzzy, silvery foliage. While some species do produce flowers, the majority are grown for their ornamental, soft foliage.
The most common and widely grown variety, Stachys byzantina, also known as ‘Big Ears’, is a variegated cultivar and rarely blooms. Many gardeners enjoy lambs ear for the attractive and unique foliage alone, and do not grow the plant for the flowers.
Does lambs ear bloom all summer?
No, lambs ear does not bloom all summer. The most common species of lambs ear, Stachys byzantina, blooms in the late spring or early summer. The flowers are small and usually purple or pink, and they grow on long spikes atop the plant.
Most people grow lambs ear for its soft, furry, silver-green leaves which are attractive year-round. Lambs ear is an ideal choice for ground cover as it will spread and form a carpet of soft foliage.
It is a perennial, so it will come back year after year, however, it is best to deadhead the flowering spikes after they are done blooming if you want it to fill in densely.
Do lambs ear plants flower?
No, lambs ear plants (stachys byzantia) do not flower. Instead, they produce small pink or white flowers in axillary whorls near the leaf margins, making them a low-care, attractive groundcover. Lambs ear plants are easy to grow and are often used as a border or edging plant in perennial beds.
They can also be used to fill in patches of bare ground, or in containers and hanging baskets. Lambs ear plants can tolerate drought, poor soil, and can even withstand occasional trampling. These plants remain evergreen in mild winters and tolerate a wide range of climates.
The foliage of lambs ear plants is covered in soft, fuzzy hair, which makes them pleasant to touch and gives them the common name of ‘lambs ear’. Another interesting feature of these plants is the leaves contain a strong antiseptic that has been used for centuries to heal wounds.
Is Rose Campion the same as lambs ear?
No, Rose Campion (Lychnis coronaria) and Lambs Ear (Stachys byzantina) are not the same plant. Rose Campion is an upright biennial or short-lived perennial flower that grows in an open clump with long, lance shaped leaves.
There are densely packed red or pink flowers with dark red-centered sepals and tiny petals. It is drought tolerant and grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. Lambs Ear is a low growing, evergreen perennial that forms a mat of woolly, silver-gray foliage.
The foliage is aromatic, soft and furry to the touch, resembling lambs ears in appearance. It produces spikes of violet blooms in spring and grows best in full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil.
Does Lambs Ear stay green all year?
No, Lambs Ear (Stachys byzantine) is a perennial sub-shrub that typically blooms in late spring or early summer. During the growing season, the foliage is typically a bluish-green color. Towards the end of summer, the leaves may start to yellow and eventually die back through autumn in preparation for dormancy over the winter.
In cooler temperature zones, the leaves may remain on the plant until severe winters, but in warmer areas the foliage normally dies back completely and any new growth appears in the early spring.