'Fuzzy Wuzzy' Lamb's Ear (Stachys)
Perennial
- Fuzzy gray/green foliage is irresistible!
- Flower wands bloom a beautiful lavender color.
- Deer & rabbit-resistant.
- Thrives in poor soils & high temperatures.
- Zones 4-8, sun to part sun, 8-16" tall and 18-24" wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Lamb's ear (Stachys) is a drought-tolerant plant often used as ground cover in sunny gardens. Its signature textured foliage is evergreen and keeps deer and rabbits at bay, looking good no matter how high the temperatures get. Because it can thrive in poor soil, gardeners love planting this perennial between rocks or gravel areas.
Details
Common name: Lamb’s ear
Zone: 4 - 8
Sun exposure: Sun (6+ hours sun) to part sun (4-6 hours sun)
Height x width: 8-16" x 18-24"
Flower color: Purple
Foliage color: Gray/green
Season of interest: Summer
Bloom time: Summer
Features: Rabbit resistant, heat tolerant, deer resistant, drought-tolerant, dry soils, ground cover, evergreen
Uses: Groundcover, edging, flower gardens, borders, rock garden
How to Grow
Light: Full sun to part sun.
Water: Average moisture is fine. Tolerates drought and dry conditions once established.
Spacing: 18 inches
Fertilizing: Not required. If more rapid growth is desired, apply a rose fertilizer in early spring.
Winterizing: No special winter requirements
Maintenance & pruning: Nothing special required. Foliage tends to be evergreen and needs little maintenance; if any dried flower stalks remain on the plant in spring, they can be trimmed off as needed.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
