Lamb's ear
Stachys byzantina
Lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina) is a groundcover suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 6–12 in tall and 18–36 in wide, needs low to medium water, and prefers full sun to part. Iconic silver woolly foliage; kid-magnet ('feel this!'). Non-flowering cultivars stay tidier.
low to medium water6–12 in tall and 18–36 in wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
Photos
At a glance
- Botanical name
- Stachys byzantina
- Variety / cultivar
- 'Helene von Stein', 'Silver Carpet'
- Type
- Groundcover
- Mature size
- 6–12 in tall and 18–36 in wide
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Sun
- full sun to part
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Soil
- sandy, loam
- Soil pH
- 6.0–8.0
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Bloom color
- pink, purple
- Bloom time
- early summer, mid summer
- Pollinator value
- moderate
Planting & establishment
Water deeply 1×/week first summer to establish. After establishment, water 1–2×/month during dry stretches.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Lamb's ear good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes. Lamb's ear is included in the Front Range Plant Finder as a groundcover suited to Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Lamb's ear get?
- It matures to about 6–12 in tall and 18–36 in wide.
- How much water does Lamb's ear need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- Is Lamb's ear native to Colorado?
- No — it is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
