Stachys byzantina ‘Silver Carpet’ in the backyard at the mansion on 5-1-09, #12-55.
Lamb’s Ears
Stachys byzantina
STAK-iss biz-an-TEE-nuh
Synonyms of Stachys byzantina (6) (Updated on 12-20-23 from Plants of the World Online): Eriostomum lanatum Hoffmanns. & Link (1809), Stachys germanica subsp. lanata Douin (1927), Stachys lanata Jacq. (1787)(nom. illeg.), Stachys lanata var. parvifolia K.Koch (1849), Stachys olympica Poir. (1817), Stachys taurica Zefir. (1951)
Stachys byzantina K.Koch is the accepted scientific name for the Lambs Ear. It was named and described by Karl Heinrich Emil Koch in Linnaea in 1849.
The genus, Stachys L., was named and described as such by Carl von Linnaeus in the second volume of the first edition of Species Plantarum 1753.
As of 2-20-23 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online lists 365 species in the Stachys genus. It is a member of the plant family Lamiaceae with 232 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.
THERE ARE A FEW LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER READING.
One of the Stachys byzantina on 6-11-13, #155-30.
I ordered my first Lambs Ear from Bluestone Perennials when I first moved to the farm after my grandfather passed away in 1981. They grew very well and made a HUGE clump by the time I moved in 1987. My second was in 2009 when I brought a pot from Lowe’s when I was living at the mansion in Leland, Mississippi. It didn’t last very long which is why I only have one photo of it. Then, after I moved back to the family farm in 2013, a good friend of mine (Karen) gave me a couple of plants her husband (Andy) had brought home from a local garden club’s plant sale. I had gone to their house to deliver eggs and Andy wasn’t home. Karen said Andy brought her these plants and she found out they were invasive so she gave them to me. Karen, by the way, is the one who told me I should start a blog way back in 2009. So, I did and I am still at it…
Stachys byzantina on 7-3-13, #160-33.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
Family: Lamiaceae.
Origin: Parts of Turkey, Iran, and the Caucasus.
Zones: USDA Zones 4a-8b (-30 to 35° F).
Size: 12-18” or so, taller in flower.
Light: Sun to light shade.
Soil: Well-drained.
Water: Average water needs. Somewhat drought tolerant once established. DO NOT overwater…
The two Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears) with the Phlomis ‘Edward Bowles’ (Jerusalem Sage) behind them on 10-17-13, #196-8. (Sorry the photo is a little blurry, but you get the picture).
I put the two Lambs’ Ears in the bed on the south side of the house after I had it ready. Now, since this was my first year back to the farm since 1987 I had to get used to gardening here again. The other problem was that my parents had moved in a manufactured home and put a couple of Crape Myrtle bushes on the south side of the house with very tall cannas in the middle. The Crape Myrtle were descendants of the ones I had cut down in the early 1980’s and it was like they came back to haunt me.
Stachys byzantina on 6-1-14, #228-78.
I always liked the Stachys byzantina for their soft, silver-white, fuzzy leaves. While they are considered invasive for some, I certainly have not had that problem. A little more would be better. They also self-sow, but mine have not even done that. Maybe I should leave more flowers on one of the clumps to see what happens.
<<<<2015>>>>
Stachys byzantina on 3-22-15, #232-17.
The Lamb’s Ears are always one of the first plants to come back in the spring. This plant is fairly frost-tolerant up to a point. In many parts of its recommended zones, this plant will be evergreen. In others, the plant will die back and emerge when it warms up in the spring, or even on warmer days during the winter. It is nothing to see this plant start to regrow in January if there are enough warm days.
Stachys byzantina on 5-1-15, #247-21.
Sometimes the lower leaves will turn brown and should be removed. This can be caused from aging or by the ground being wet under the plant causing their leaves to rot. Applying mulch under and around the plant will help.
Stachys byzantina leaves on 5-8-15, #251-18.
To grow this plant successfully you need very well-draining soil. They DO NOT like wet soil and will surely rot if the soil stays too damp for too long.
They really like the sun but they also do OK in lightly shaded areas. The main problem with them being in too much shade is not necessarily the light, but mainly how fast moisture dries from their leaves after rain or watering. Too much moisture on their leaves can lead to rotting or brown spots.
Stachys byzantina on flowers on 5-28-15, #264-18.
Many consider the flowers of the Lamb’s Ears not to be that showy. You need to take a closer look. This is a very complex plant! Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love this plant!
Stachys byzantina on 6-14-15, #268-42.
The Stachys byzantina is a very drought-tolerant plant but does appreciate regular watering during hot summer months.
<<<<2017>>>>
Stachys byzantina on 3-7-17, #312-15.
While many people love this plant for its nice, fuzzy leaves, few realize its other benefits. Believe it or not, the leaves of these plants were once used on battlefields for dressing wounds. Not only do the leaves soak up blood and help it clot faster, they have antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Stachys byzantina on 7-9-17, #355-49.
Leaves boiled in water can be used to make an infusion to treat pinkeye and styes. Tea made from this plant can be used to help treat fevers, diarrhea, sore mouth, internal bleeding, bee stings, and so on.
You can even eat the leaves in a salad or steam them. Hmmm… I should give that a try…
<<<<2018>>>>
Stachys byzantina on 1-12-18, #397-20.
The above photo was taken on January 12. The early part of January was very cold, dipping down to -10° F a few times. Here the division I moved in the southeast corner bed is enjoying a few warm days.
Normally I leave the dead leaves and stems on my perennials until new growth appears in the spring. Last fall I cleaned off the south bed, removing most plants dead leaves and stems. The older and largest clump of the Lamb’s Ears almost completely died out maybe because I had removed the dead leaves and stems instead of leaving them until spring. It was a good thing I had put a couple of divisions in other areas or I may have lost this plant.
Stachys byzantina on 4-13-18, #425-49.
As spring temperatures continued to warm up, many of the perennials and up and starting to leaf out. Others continue to wait for consistent warm temperatures.
Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears) on 5-6-18, #436-57.
Sometimes a Lamb’s Ear pops up a little farther away from the other cluster of plants.
Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears) on 5-6-18, #436-58.
Looking very good on May 6.
Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears) on 5-17-18, #443-97.
By May 17 it was getting ready to flower.
Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears) on 6-14-18, #459-69.
Here we go again…
Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears) on 6-14-18, #459-70.
The Stachys byzantina had a very good summer in 2018…
<<<<2019>>>>
Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears) on 3-10-19, #552-14.
Warmer temps and sun off and on make you think spring is here. Some of the perennials are testing the waters…
Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears) on 4-7-19, #558-36.
By April 7 (2019) the Lamb’s Ears looked like they were off and running… The colony spread out nicely…
Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears) on 5-1-19, #564-49.
Looking GREAT by May 1 in 2019. Lingering cool temps delayed the growth of many perennials, but now that it is May, they will be taking off.
Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears) on 5-5-19, #566-73.
Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears) on 5-25-19, #576-82.
Getting in the flowering mode by May 25 in 2019 when the above photo was taken.
Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears) on 6-9-19, #585-20.
The Stachys byzantina continued to do well over the summer in 2019. I was fairly busy with the garden and other things in 2020 so I didn’t take many plant photos around the house. Hopefully, I can do better in 2021.
<<<<2021>>>>
Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears) on 2-23-21, #782-5.
We were breezing through January and part of February with fairly nice weather. We had some cold days, a little snow now and then, but it was bearable. Then the second week of February came and the temps dropped. Two weeks hovering around zero and below zero temps with snow on the ground. Then, it was over. It was 63° F when I took the above photo on February 23 and the Lamb’s Ears were looking almost as if it were spring… GEEZ!
The Stachys byzantina came up in the spring od 2022 and 2023, but seems to be having a little difficulty. Maybe I should work on the soil. I haven’t done that for a few years.
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