Lamb's ear needs full sun and soil that drains fast, though a little afternoon shade keeps the leaves from scorching in very hot summers. Lamb's Ears, also known as Wooly Betony or Wooly Woundwort, is a distinctive perennial groundcover that is a welcome addition to residential gardens. Its fuzzy gray-silver foliage and thick flower spikes add variety to flower borders. A vigorous plant, it is a staple in many gardens because it is easy to grow and has few insect or disease problems.
Does Lamb's Ear Need Full Sun?
Yes. Lamb's ears like full sun and fast-draining soil, which is why they are planted along the sunny edges of perennial borders. The one exception is a very hot summer, when the silver leaves can scorch. A spot with afternoon shade helps there.
Sun alone won't keep them healthy. In damp, humid weather the matted lower leaves tend to rot, so pair the sunny spot with soil that drains well.
How Tall and Wide Lamb's Ears Grow
Lamb's ears leaves are thick, soft and felt-like, 4 to 6 inches long, in a silvery-green color, and they grow in dense mats. Lamb's Ears foliage grows from 6 to 8 inches tall, but the flower spikes extend up to 18 inches above the ground. This plant has the characteristic square stems of the mint family. It spreads readily by means of root runners, spreading as far as permitted. Customarily, patches of lamb's ears are maintained from 12 to 24 inches wide.
What Lamb's Ears Leaves Look and Feel Like
Lamb's ears foliage is extremely attractive. Individual leaves are 4 to 6 inches long, thick with a felt-like texture and a cool silvery-green color. They grow in dense mats.
Lamb's Ears Flowers: Small Pink Spikes in Early Summer
Lamb's ears bloom in late spring and early summer, sending up fuzzy spikes of small purplish-pink flowers that honeybees love. More valued as a foliage plant than a flowering one, lamb's ears send up tall fuzzy spikes in early summer which feature whorls of unobtrusive flowers tucked among tiny leaves. These tiny, purplish to pink blossoms are 1/2 inch across, and bloom in late spring and early summer. They are very popular with honeybees. Many gardeners remove the flower stalks as soon as they appear to forestall self-seeding and improve the appearance of the foliage.
Lamb's Ear Varieties: Silver Carpet and Helene von Stein
The variety `Silver Carpet' is a non-flowering form. 'Helene von Stein', also sold as Big Ears, holds up better in hot, muggy weather.
sunny edges of perennial borders
Lamb's Ears Grow Best in Full Sun and Fast-Draining Soil
Give lamb's ears full sun and soil that drains fast and they spread into a soft silver groundcover with few problems. Add afternoon shade only where summers get very hot. The pages below cover planting, care and the problems to watch for.
