(Stachys Byzantina ‘Lamb's Ear’)
Lamb's Ear is a mat-forming perennial flower native to the Middle East but can be commonly found growing in disturbed meadows and prairies in scattered locations throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 12-16” and features velvety silver leaves, 10-16” spikes, and small bright purple flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer and rabbits, tolerates drought, is both edible and medicinal, self-sows, and is used as a cut flower!
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General Information
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Germination
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Seedlings
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Harvesting
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Seed Saving
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Culinary
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Medicinal
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Companion Planting
Genus: Stachys
Species: byzantina
Variety: Lamb's Ear
Also Known As: Lamb’s Tails, Lamb’s Tongue, Woolly Betony, Woolly Woundwort.
Native to: Iran, Krym, North Caucasus, Transcaucasus, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe.
Introduced into: Altay, Austria, British Columbia, Bulgaria, California, Connecticut, Czechoslovakia, France, Illinois, Montana, New York, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Ontario, Québec, Ukraine, Utah, Vermont, Virginia.
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Perennial
Blooms: Summer
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Moist, well-drained, pH 5.8 - 7.2
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Also is deer resistant and not to popular to rabbits.
Containers?: Yes.
Height: 12-16”
Spacing: 16”
Sow Depth: On soil surface.
Produces: velvety silver leaves, 10-16” spikes, and small bright purple flowers.
USDA Grow Zone: 4a-8b
A tea made from the young leaves is used to treat fevers, diarrhea, sore mouth and throat, internal bleeding, and weaknesses of the liver and heart. The same tea can be used topically as an eyewash to treat pinkeye and sties.
The juice from crushed leaves can be placed directly on the skin to treat bee stings and insect bites helping to reduce swelling. It can also be used to treat hemorrhoids, or for postpartum recovery.
Extremely active, thrips feed in large groups. They leap or fly away when disturbed. Host plants include onions, beans, carrots, squash and many other garden vegetables, and many flowers, especially gladioli and roses. Both adults and the wingless larvae are attracted to white, yellow and other light colored blossoms and are responsible for spreading tomato spotted wilt virus and impatiens necrotic spot virus.
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