Stachys byzantina

Stachys byzantina

(syn. S. lanata; lamb's-ear,Stachys lanata or Stachys olympica) is a species of Stachys, native to Turkey, Armenia, and Iran.

Lamb's-ear flowers in late spring and early summer; produce tall spike-like stems with a few reduced leaves. The flowers are small and either white or pink. The plants tend to be evergreen but can "die" back during cold winters and regenerate new growth from the crowns. In warmer climates they may grow year-round, but suffer where it is hot and humid.

Notes: Soft, downy foliage, formerly used to bandage wounds.	Scientific Name: Stachys byzantina Common Name:  Wooly Lamb's Ear Mature Height: 12-18 inches Mature Spread: 12-30 inches Bloom Time: Early Summer - Mid-Summer Plant Type: Perennial Where To Plant: Full Sun to Partly Shady Soil Types: Average Germination: Easy Uses: Medicinal

Lamb's-ear plants are perennial herbs usually densely covered with gray or silver-white, silky-lanate hairs. They are named lamb's ears because of the leaves' curved shape and white, soft, fur-like hair coating.

It is cultivated over much of the temperate world as an ornamental plant. It is also used as an edging plant. It has sometimes been used as a medicinal plant.Wooly lamb's ears are good for dressing a wound.  They stop up the blood and soothe.

Growing Stachys byzantina

Lamb's-ear is easy to grow and the thick felt-like leaves are fun to touch., preferring partial shade to full sunlight and well-drained soils not rich in nitrogen.Sow in pots in the spring and work up seedlings to the second set of leaves before transplanting out to 1 foot spacing.

Buying Lamb's-ear

Gardener can buy Stachys byzantina seeds from these vendors:

horizonherbs :  $2.95 50s

sandmountainherbs $2.5 50s

swallowtailgardenseeds : 100 s - $1.99