Stachys byzantina (Lamb's Ear) – Hardy Perennial (Set of 3 or 6)

Lamb's ear is grown for its leaves: soft, silver grey and thickly felted, spreading into a low mat that almost asks to be touched.

The plants make a dense carpet 30 to 45cm high and up to 60cm across, useful for edging a path, softening the front of a border or filling a gap where you want ground cover rather than height. In summer, upright spikes carry small whorls of pinkish purple flower that bees work steadily. The silver foliage is at its best against dark leaves or hot colours.

Give it sun or light shade and free draining soil. It is genuinely drought tolerant, thrives in poor dry ground, and stands up to coastal wind and salt. Wet soil is what kills it, so keep it out of heavy ground and water at the base rather than over the leaves, since wet wool rots.

Remove the spent flower spikes for fresh foliage, or leave them standing for the wildlife. Divide the clumps every few years. Supplied as a set of three or six established plants, each as a 1 litre root ball ready for planting.

Cultural Information

• Common Name: Lamb's ear, woolly hedgenettle
• Fully Grown Height and Spread: 30 to 45cm tall, 30 to 60cm wide
• Growth Habit: Low growing, mat forming
• Perfect For: Ground cover, border edging, gravel gardens, rockeries, sensory gardens, containers
• Foliage: Soft, densely woolly, silver grey leaves
• Flowering Time: June to August
• Planting Position: Full sun or partial shade, including coastal gardens. Suits containers and dry soil once established
• Soil Type: Free draining. Tolerates poor and dry soils, dislikes wet ground
• Hardiness: Fully hardy across Britain, though the woolly leaves rot if they sit wet over winter
• Maintenance: Low. Remove spent flower spikes, avoid overhead watering, divide every few years
• Seasonal Interest: Summer
• Type: Hardy herbaceous perennial