Photo By Jean-Pol GRANDMONT , used under CC-BY-SA-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original

How to Grow and Care for Lamb's-ear

Lamb's-ear, also known as Woolly betony, Lamb's wool, Woolly hedgenettle, Lamb's tongue, Jesus flannel

Lamb's-ear is a hardy perennial known for its soft, fuzzy foliage. It thrives in well-drained soil and requires full to partial sunlight. Overwatering should be avoided, as lamb's-ear is drought-tolerant and susceptible to root rot. Special care points include ensuring good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases and trimming back after flowering to maintain its compact shape.

Watering schedule: Every week

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

In This Article

Planting and Growing Lamb's-ear

Toughness	High
Care Level	Medium
Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every week
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun
Soil Type	Garden Soil
Soil pH	6-7.5
Planting Time	Spring
Hardiness Zones	7-10

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Varieties of Lamb's-ear

Lamb's-ear 'Silver Carpet'

Lamb's-ear 'Silver Carpet' is a low-growing, ground-covering perennial known for its soft, silvery-grey foliage. The plant's leaves are fuzzy and lance-shaped, providing a unique texture among garden plants. Thriving in full sun, lamb's-ear 'Silver Carpet' is drought-resistant and lends a striking contrast to darker-foliage species, creating a carpet-like appearance in rockeries and borders.

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More General Info About Lamb's-ear

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Lamb's-ear is distinguished by its striking ground-hugging silver-green foliage, which has a velvety texture and oblong-elliptical shape. The leaves are woolly and grow densely together in rosettes, feeling thick and soft to the touch. During the summer months, lamb's-ear produces erect spikes or racemes of purplish-pink flowers, atop stems that reach 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 cm) in height. Following successful pollination, the plant yields an oblong, brown nutlet. It thrives in both sun and partial shade and is a robust groundcover, with leaves typically varying in size across cultivars.