How To Grow and Use Wooly Lamb’s Ear

These are one of my favorite herbs on our property. Lamb’s Ear, also known as Stachys byzantina. As you can see, it’s growing a bit un-manicured in a woodsy part of our property right now.

I plan on tying them into a nice flower bed border, but also planting them here and there around the property, hoping to encourage them to go wild and spread where they please.

lambs ear plant
lambs ear plant

Many people notice Lamb’s Ear popping up in their gardens and pull it immediately, thinking it’s a weed. Likely, it reemerges right away, as it’s highly resilient.

If you happen to notice Lamb’s Ear on your property, let it be! Not only is it a valuable plant to have in your garden, it offers hundreds of medicinal and culinary purposes as well.

Quick Facts

Growing zones4 to 6
Soil pHneutral (6 to 6.5)
Soil types:all
Ideal temperature60 – 70 F (15 – 21 C)
Humidity50% – 60%

Is Lamb’s Ear Edible?

Yes, wooly lamb’s ear is definitely edible. It tastes like a combination of apples and pineapples, with a delightfully fruity taste.

You can use it in salads or you can chew it, as some cultures have been doing for a long time. You can also make a very pleasant tea by steeping dried leaves in boiling water.

If you want the best flavor, go for freshly picked leaves…

This tea not only tastes great, but can be used to alleviate a variety of conditions. Among them, lamb’s ear can alleviate sore throats. It’s also believed to boost liver and heart health, and to help fight staph infections, and E. coli.

Before you use it in a recipe, you should definitely boil it for 8-10 minutes to soften it a little bit.

Lamb’s Ear Background

Lamb’s ear was originally grown in Turkey, Armenia, and Iran, but is now cultivated around much of the world because of its ornamental, medicinal, and culinary qualities.

It also has antibacterial properties and is even effective against Staphylococcus aureus, the strain of bacteria responsible for various infections like sinus or skin infections. This bacteria is resistant to most antibiotics, so Lamb’s Ear is a godsend in the fight against it.

Used as a natural bandage in medieval times, this plant is super effective at healing wounds. It was one of the most important medicinal herbs to the Anglo-Saxons of early medieval Britain and is native to Europe and the Middle East.

However, it has spread widely to most parts of North America. Although it’s considered invasive, there are a ton of physical benefits to it that most people appreciate.

Mysteriously, some superstitious people even believe that lamb’s ear has the power to heal spiritual and emotional wounds!

This plant has been cultivated all over the world for its ornamental qualities. You might see it marketed by other names, too, including wooly hedgenettle, Stachys lanata or Stachs olympica.

There are several lamb’s ear varieties / cultivars available, including:

  • Big Ears: This variety, as you might expect, has leaves up to 25 centimeters long!
  • Primrose Heron: This one has pink flowers and its leaves turn yellow in the spring.
  • Striped Phantom: Striped Phantom is distinguishable by its variegated leave.
  • Silver Carpet: Silver Carpet is a sterile plant that is asexually propagated and has grey leaves.
  • Silky Fleece: Silky Fleece produces lilac-colored flowers along with small white wooly foliage. It propagates by seed.
  • Sheila Macqueen: This is another sterile variety of lamb’s ear that produces large leaves.
  • Cotton boll: Another sterile cultivar, this one is also asexually propagated and doesn’t produce flowering stems.

Commonly grown in children’s gardens, this plant is easy to grow and even more fun to touch! It’s used as an edible plant in a variety of areas, particularly in Brazil, and is known there as lambari. It can be used as a landscaping plant, too, as it’s perfect for edging and creating borders.

A perennial herb, lamb’s ear is covered with tons of gray or white tiny, silky-smooth hairs. The leaves are curved and covered with fur, much like the lamb of an adorable baby lamb!

Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) is a plant that is commonly grown for its wooly, silver-gray leaves. The leaves are large and heart-shaped, and they are covered in a dense layer of soft, fine hair.

The plant produces small, pink or purplish flowers that bloom in the summertime. It is an evergreen perennial, meaning that it will keep its leaves all year long.

Lamb’s ear is native to the Mediterranean region, but it has been introduced to other parts of the world, including North America. It is a relatively low-maintenance plant, and it can tolerate a wide range of growing conditions.

Lamb’s ear typically reaches a height of 12-18 inches (30-45 cm).

The plant later produces flowering spikes up to 9 inches (22 centimeters) long, each of which has many flowers that crowd together on these spikes.

Lamb’s ear flowers in the late spring and early summer, giving your garden plenty of color at the perfect time of year. As evergreen plants, they tend to die back during exceptionally cold winters but later regenerate from their crowns.

How to Grow Lamb’s Ear

I started them from seed this past Spring, and they’ve already begun to readily multiply. They’re super easy to start from seed (I ordered mine from Horizon Herbs).

Best Location for Lamb’s Ear

You should plant your lamb’s ear seeds in full sun to partial shade. It prefers soil that is well-draining and moderately moist or even somewhat dry. The soil pH should be mostly neutral at about 6 to 6.5. It grows best in zones 4 to 7 but may be able to tolerate some other climates, too.

This plant can grow in just about any soil type, including clay or sand.

Lamb’s ear is commonly used as a flower border but can also serve as an excellent ground cover. You can start it with seeds or you can dig up other plants that were created via self-seeding and divide them in the spring. You can even use them in rock gardens!

Preparing the Soil for Planting

Remove any existing vegetation, such as grass or weeds.

Next, the soil should be loosened so that roots can easily penetrate it. This can be done with a shovel or a tiller. The soil should then be amended with compost or other organic matter. This will help to improve its drainage and aeration while also providing essential nutrients.

Finally, the soil should be firm but not compacted so that plant roots have room to spread out.

Planting

Just plant the seeds about 1/4″ deep in the seed starting mix, and keep them moist and away from direct sunlight until the seedlings emerge. Once they’ve popped up through the soil, make sure they get plenty of light for at least 6-8 hours a day.

If you’re planting started plants, space them at least a foot or so apart so they have room to sprawl. You don’t need to fertilize prior to planting, but it doesn’t hurt to add a bit of compost.

wooly lambs ear seedlings in container
wooly lambs ear seedlings in container

Water them as needed when you see the soil getting dry. (I suggest setting the pot, which should have drain holes in the bottom, in a container of water to absorb moisture as needed instead of watering from the top.)

Lamb’s ear is a super tolerant plant. It’s actually distantly related to mint, which is why it is so hardy and such a vigorous grower.

Growth Stages of Lamb’s Ear

A frost-hardy plant, it produces downy leaves that make it super drought tolerant. Even when water is low and the sunlight is intense, this plant will rarely droop.

Lamb’s ear has two phases of growth – in the first, it will grow horizontally and produce a cushiony mattress. In the second stage, it will send up stalks and flowers in spikes. It is truly a self-mulching plant!

The spikes will grow to up to 18 inches tall, with the rest of the plant spreading out about one foot wide, much closer to the ground. The blooms are usually light purple.

They can tolerate drought conditions as well as poor soil quality, but they don’t do well with standing water. Make sure wherever you plant them has excellent drainage.)

Caring for Lamb’s Ear

Once the plants have developed, you have to keep an eye out for rotting in humid conditions. Mulching underneath the leaves can help prevent this and other moisture-related diseases and fungi from developing.

Here are a few more tips to help you care for this plant.

Fertilizing

Lamb’s ear is a tough, drought-tolerant plant that doesn’t require much care. In fact, you don’t need to fertilize it at all. However, you may find that it benefits from a light application of compost each spring.

This will help the plant to break down any organic matter in the soil and release nutrients into the root zone. Composting also helps to improve drainage and aeration in the soil, both of which are important for healthy plant growth.

If you do choose to fertilize your lamb’s ear, be sure to use a low-nitrogen fertilizer so that you don’t accidentally encourage too much leaf growth. Too much foliage can make the plant susceptible to disease and pests.

Temperature and Humidity

Lamb’s ear is a hardy plant that can tolerate a wide range of temperature and humidity levels. However, it thrives in conditions that are slightly cooler and more humid than average. An ideal temperature for lamb’s ear is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, with a humidity level of 50-60%.

If the temperature gets too hot or the humidity level gets too low, the plant will start to wilt and the leaves will turn brown. In extreme conditions, the plant may die.

However, as long as the conditions are not too severe, lamb’s ear will usually recover once they are corrected. Again, this is one of the toughest plants out there!

Watering

Though it is relatively low-maintenance, proper watering is essential to keeping this plant healthy. Lamb’s ear does not tolerate overhead sprinklers, as the water can damage the leaves.

Instead, water should be applied at the base of the plant, taking care not to wet the leaves. It is also important to allow the soil to dry out somewhat between waterings, as too much moisture can lead to root rot.

Provide your plant with at least one to two inches of water per week when you first plant, but then know that it is mostly drought-tolerant and can fend for itself.

Transplanting

When they have several sets of “true” leaves, they’re ready to be transplanted into a semi-shady to sunny spot of your choice. When planting, space your seedlings about a foot apart. Above is a picture of my seedlings on transplanting day.

They do nicely in containers, or in any well-draining soil. Actually, we have pretty hard red clay here, and they’ve adapted just fine when amended with compost.

Since we have hot, humid summers, I planted my lamb’s ear at the edge of the woods, in a semi-shady spot to prevent wilting. My plants haven’t flowered yet; I wonder if they may be a non-flowering variety.

Deadhead Flowers

If and when your plants DO flower, you should clip off any dead flower heads. Healthy flowers attract bees as well as other pollinators, and also give off a pleasant, pineapple-like scent.

Pruning

This plant spreads rapidly via underground runners, and can quickly become invasive if not properly controlled. For this reason, it is important to prune lamb’s ear regularly. Otherwise, the plant will quickly overrun the garden bed.

Lamb’s ear can be pruned in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. Cut back the plant by one-third to one-half its height to encourage bushiness.

Remove any dead, diseased, or damaged leaves, as well as any leaves that are growing inwards towards the center of the plant. Pruning lamb’s ear will keep it looking tidy and under control, and will help prevent it from taking over your garden.

Propagating Lamb’s Ear

The plant can be propagated by seed, division, or root cuttings. Seed propagation is the most common method, but it can take up to two years for lamb’s ear to bloom from seed.

For faster results, propagate lamb’s ear by division in spring or fall. To propagate by root cuttings, take 4-inch cuttings from the tips of the roots in late winter or early spring and plant them immediately.

Pests and Diseases

The plants don’t normally attract a lot of pests, except in damp, humid weather. Humidity can cause the foliage to become diseased, which can attract sowbugs. Remove dead or diseased leaves to prevent these (as well as other!) pests.

Thinning and Controlling Lamb’s Ear in Later Years

Lamb’s ear grows in zones 4-7, and will be happy to come back even bigger year after year. The plants will multiply; to keep them controlled, thin them as needed by dividing the crowns with a sharp shovel to transplant.

Wherever you plant them, make sure you are comfortable with them expanding. They can be somewhat invasive and will create dense mats even in undesirable soil.

You might need to thin it every two or three years.

If you are reading this and haven’t planted lamb’s ear yet, I recommend selecting a location that you don’t mind becoming inundated with these plants – you’re going to have plenty on your hands so it’s a good idea to plan ahead.

Even if you choose not to divide it because it’s growing out of control, it’s a good idea to, at the very least, prune your plants. This can help prevent your flower stalks from becoming too tall and gangly.

If you think they look a little awkward, just cut them off. Otherwise, just divide your plants every four years or so, or leave them be if you want to maintain large, sprawling clumps.

Nevertheless, as I mentioned, they’re drought-tolerant, and deer-resistant (most herbivores find the ultra-soft leaves unpalatable). It’s also resistant to rabbits. They are also super easy to grow.

How to Overwinter Lamb’s Ear

While some delicate annuals and herbs must be brought indoors, hardy perennials can often withstand the cold weather if they are properly protected.

One of these hardy plants is lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina), a low-growing evergreen with soft, furry leaves. If you live in a frost-free climate, you can simply leave your lamb’s ear plants in the ground.

However, if frost is expected, it’s best to take measures to protect this ground cover plant. The easiest way to do this is to mulch heavily around the plants before the first frost.

You can use any type of mulch, such as straw, pine needles, or even shredded cardboard. Just make sure that the mulch is several inches thick and extends at least 12 inches away from the plant’s crown.

With proper care, your lamb’s ear plants should survive the winter and provide you with beautiful foliage for years to come.

How to Get Lamb’s Ear to Bloom

Though lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) is grown mostly for its soft, velvety leaves, this perennial also produces wooly flower spikes in late spring and early summer.

The flowers are typically a pale lavender color, but they can also be pink, white or even red. If you want your lamb’s ear to bloom, there are a few things you can do to encourage flower production.

First, make sure the plant is getting enough sunlight. Lamb’s ear prefers full sun to partial shade, so if it’s growing in too much shade, it may not produce many flowers.

Second, water regularly during the growing season to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Third, fertilize monthly with a balanced fertilizer to promote blooming.

Finally, wait until the proper bloom time. This herbaceous perennial typically only blooms once summer is in full swing, and once it has reached its mature size.

What is the Difference Between Mullein and Lamb’s Ear?

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) and lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) are two popular types of plants often used in landscaping. Both plants have silvery-gray leaves, but that is where the similarity ends.

Mullein is an upright plant that can grow up to six feet tall, while lamb’s ear is a low-growing groundcover that only reaches about eight inches in height. Mullein has large, showy flowers that bloom in the summer, while lamb’s ear does not produce any flowers.

Finally, mullein is a hardy plant that can tolerate a wide range of conditions, while lamb’s ear is more delicate and needs to be protected from direct sun and extreme heat. When choosing between these two plants, it is important to consider your specific needs and preferences.

Growing Lamb’s Ear Indoors

When grown indoors, lamb’s ear will reach a height of about 12 inches. If you live in a colder climate, you can place the plant near a south-facing window to ensure that it receives enough light.

Uses for Lamb’s Ear

If you’ve never felt a leaf from this furry, silvery seafoam plant, imagine stroking a super soft puppy ear, or more appropriately, a baby lamb’s ear, and you get the picture.

Whenever I take a stroll through my yard and happen upon a cluster of Lamb’s ears, I’m always compelled to pluck off a plump leaf and rub it against my cheek. And smile. It’s just so stinking soft! Kids especially love to “pet” these plants.

This plant creates a gorgeous and verdant carpet in the garden, with a layer of tiny white hairs. The kids love to walk through the lamb’s ear and pet the leaves!

Lamb’s Ear makes a handsome border for any walkway or flowerbed. In addition to its lush foliage, it also produces lovely blooms.

This plant grows up to three feet tall and up to four feet wide, and can produce flowers in colors like pink, purple, red, and even white. This plant attracts birds and makes a good cut flower as well.

But it’s also handy medicinally as well. Herbalists sometimes refer to it as wooly woundwort.

For centuries, hunters and soldiers have used Lamb’s Ear leaves as a field dressing for injuries. With its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and super absorbent properties, it makes a very good make-shift bandage.

This plant gets blood to clot quicker, while its leaves absorb some of the blood. Because they are so soft, you won’t mind putting them on your skin -plus, they’re antibacterial, antiseptic, and antifungal.

It’s a good alternative to store-bought bandages if you don’t have any (say, in a survival situation)…

For an even more powerful effect, combine lamb’s ear with a bit of plantain or yarrow. It works great for bee stings.

It has also been said that Lamb’s Ear was used as the first toilet tissue! Remember that the next time you head out on a backwoods camping trip.

You can even use Lamb’s Ear for floral arrangements, wreaths, and potpourris.  With so many uses for this beautiful plant, we’d better plant a ton!!

Do you have Lamb’s Ear growing around your home? What’s your favorite way to enjoy it?

wooly lambs ear pinterest

94 thoughts on “How To Grow and Use Wooly Lamb’s Ear”

  1. I think different varieties must require different requirements to thrive? Mine doesn’t look like the pict, it is silvery blue green and very thick furry leaves. I have not found anything that bothers it. Not weather, soil humidity or sunlight (North Chicagoland area). Invasive is a nicer way to describe its aggressiveness and resilience! I’ve been a bit disgruntled at my neighbor who shared it with me 30 years ago! Now that I’ve learned that it is edible, has medicinal value and is a good substitute for t.p., I will now try to harvest it instead of tame it! 😉

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  2. I really enjoyed your blog on lamb’s ear! What’s the best way to keep it for year around use as bandages or toilet paper? It doesn’t sound like dehydrating it is an answer. Is freeze drying any better or what would you suggest?

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  3. Love your article and how completely you’ve covered everything. I was curious if all the medicinal properties are intact after dehydrating them?

    Thank you for your precious time to provide so many wonderful articles.

    Reply
    • Try, after you dry this herb, to use for medicine, toast in oven. After it cools, put into coffee bean grinder. You want it to be a really fine powder. From this point you can use how you wish. Just know that by toasting, this or any herb, you now have doubled the strength. This process is called Decarbonization. Or D-carb. My Grandma called it rabbit ear. Guess cause she made to an oil for my earache. Stay Strong To Mother earth you belong. Charlene Strong

      Reply
      • That is not how Decarboxylation works. (Decarbonization is something completely different).

        Decarbing is a chemical reaction that removes a carboxyl group and releases carbon dioxide.
        Only certain active constituents in certain plants have the potential to be Decarbed and these are usually Acids that need to be activated by heat. THC-A convert to THC and CBD-A converts to be CBD by Decarboxylating the plant at a specific temperature.

        If you ‘Toast’ certain plants, all you will be doing is destroying a lot of active constituents that are necessary for the medicinal use of the plant. Some active constituents are so fragile, even drying the plant will destroy them so the plant should always be used fresh in any preparation.

        When it comes to herbal medicine, there is no ‘onesize fits all’ way of doing things. Each and every plant needs to be looked at individually.

        Reply
        • Hello Emma.
          You seem to know a lot about how natural herbs work for medicine. Where would I go to find proper information. I I was taught some by my grandparents . I have allways wanted to know more. Not sure where to go for the truth.
          Don’t know who all seems this but any Good information will be appreciated.
          Thank you
          Thank you Kendra for this article and others you have published. You seem to be very truth right and knowledgeable.

          Reply
  4. Hi ~ I live in WI and have had a Lamb’s Ear plant for 5 years. Every year I notice black spots on the leaves and now on the flower buds. It seems to be getting worse. Was wondering if it’s a pest or due to a wet spring. Is there something I can do? Otherwise I really love the plant.
    Thanks for any suggestions.
    Mary

    Reply
    • She said in the article above to mulch under them to cut down on the humidity and to pull the diseased leaves before it spreads

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  5. I bought a lamb’s ear this spring. I love it, but it gets very “thirsty” in the pot I have it in. I live in Alabama and am wondering if I may transplant it in the yard in the fall. I never knew these are the same as those I see wild everywhere! My son used to use it if he had an emergency bathroom in the woods. I will now dig every one I see up!!!

    Reply
    • I have found here in Alabama the plant does best with morning shade, full sun after noon, in my yard. Very hot and humid here. Plant needs some shade to keep from color washing out and stugging to survive. Moist location also helps.

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  6. I have some that are over 6 feet tall (including seed head). They grow in over 100 degree heat.
    How can you tell the difference between lambs ear and mullein?
    Thanks for all this great info about their foraging use.

    Reply
    • That sounds like mullein. It grows a very tall stalk with yellow flowers on it. Lamb’s Ear doesn’t grow nearly that tall. My Lamb’s Ear has purple flowers. Mullein is great to use for coughs. 🙂

      Reply
      • Had a chronic cough after a bout with pneumonia. Started dosing with Mullein tea. Cough is gone and almost all congestion. Mullein most definitely works great for cough. BTW, I sometimes get carried away when I find something that works. I brewed it very strong and drank too much. It caused pretty severe constipation for short time. Completely my own fault…I have no trouble when dosing sensibly. Just a warning to anyone like me who thinks. If it good, then dosing more will make it better! Not!

        Reply
    • Muellin has a tall.. 4-5′ stalk in center with small yellow flowers up it..My Mom was 1/2 Cherokee she used it medical. Muellin is a herb my husband takes for COPD 2 caps twice a day! He has had walking pneumonia twice and I gave him 9 caps in am and 9 caps in pm for several days and he was well..

      Reply
  7. They do nicely in containers, or in any well-draining soil. Actually, we have pretty hard red clay here, and they’ve adapted just fine when amended with compost. Since we have hot, humid summers, I planted my lamb’s ear at the edge of the woods.

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  8. I have a small patch of Lambs Ear I just replanted because it was in to much shade. This year it’s doing much better. I was surprised how much one can use this plant for, I will be trying some suggestions. Very informative, thank you.

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  9. Live in Texas and I want to transplant to another part in yard. Is now a good time to transplant? They have survived 10+years to date.

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  10. Tx so much for the info on these plants. Love the softness and even more so now that I know they have many uses. Will grow more of them!

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  11. I have a small patch of Lambs Ear I just replanted because it was in to much shade. This year it’s doing much better. I was surprised how much one can use this plant for, I will be trying some suggestions. Very informative, thank you.

    Reply
  12. Hello all
    Strange this beautiful plant literally popped up in my yard by my hos tis ? Not spelled correct!it’s taken me weeks to figure out what this is, now at about 4 ft tall I am wagering it’s a
    Lambs ear???!
    Beautiful and ready to bloom,
    Butt I never put it there, I’ve lived here 6 yrs now it’s never been there
    Anyone no if they grow wild??
    Thanks for the support..
    I love my lambs ear more now to mounts got medical use..
    🙂
    Lori

    Reply
    • That actually sounds like it may be a mullein plant. Which is also a good medicinal herb which has great respiratory health properties.

      Reply
    • Once the plant grows tall it “blooms”. It looks the size of a cattail. But it’s soft, green & has tiny purple little flowers. These pollinate and the small seedlings can be carried by wind anywhere. Which maybe how your plant started.

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      • If you were being sarcastic your comment was hilarious. If you weren’t; those were actual ears from lambs (the kind with four legs)

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    • The Lamb’s Earth does grow wild. I’m in Mississippi, and it is all in the woods where there is very, very little sun. Very beautiful plants, growing around other wild plants.

      Reply
  13. I am happy to see all the information you have gathered in one place! I love herbs and do have lambs ear growing in my herbal garden. I harvest the leaves throughout the growing season, but never left them to flower. With the info you have presented, I’ll let them flower this year! Thank you!

    Reply
  14. I have these little guys popping up in my flower beds at my new rental. It’s so interesting that this little plant has so many uses. Thank you so much for the info.

    I am New to gardening and want to dig some up to give to friends any tips?

    They seem to be covering the whole flower bed areas with some peonies. I want to thin them out other then around the edges and plant a new Sun loving selection of plants.

    Reply
    • Amanda,
      You can easily dig up the Lamb’s Ear and transplant it. Just be sure to dig it up by the roots, don’t shake the dirt off, then plant it at the same depth in a fresh spot with good soil.

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      • Last year, in Fall, I cut down the flower spikes that were then brown and dry, and tossed them on my potting table. This spring, guess what… New lambs ears were growing under my potting table ?

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  15. So cool! I stopped at a garage sale today and the lady and I clicked really well, she gave me a lambs ear and thanked me for the conversation. Now I’m wanting to line my rock beds with them! I just want to snuggle this little plant!

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  16. Just wanted to say that Lambs Ear is good for hemmorids. Just was the leaves good and burst them and apply to the area. You will see a big difference in days.

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  17. Hi, I bought my lambs ear a few weeks ago and planted it in an indoor planter. The leaves have started turning yellow and kind of wilty. What am I doing wrong?

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  18. I live in Tucson, AZ and would like to grow this plant. I don’t have a large yard so was thinking of using a pot or pots. Would you suggest bringing it in when it gets too hot – as in over 100? What suggestions to you have for growing it here.

    Thank you

    Reply
    • Katrina,

      It seems to be very heat tolerant, at least as far as I can tell. Sometimes we have over 100* summer days, and our Lamb’s Ear has always thrived. I think it would be fine. And yes, you can plant it in pots.

      Reply
      • this is a drought tolerant plant. some people only grow it for the foliage but bees love the flowers. it will produce a lot of seeds so you will most likely end up with hundreds of babies.

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  19. I love the scent the flowers give off. I am wondering if it is possible to make scented oil or water from them as you would lavender or violets?

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  20. I am just now finding this post from 2 years ago. I was wondering if there is a difference between Wooly Lambs Ear and just Lambs Ear. My son said he had read that the Wooly Lambs Ear could not be bought as a plant, only by seed. I have seen Lambs Ear for sale in many places around my area. I live in north MS near Memphis. If they are the same thing, then I am in luck!!!

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  21. Hi just got lam ear yesterday and I did not know what to do with it and didn’t know it had so many uses. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!!

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  22. I too had no idea about the wide range of uses for this pretty little plant. I am definitely going to find my self some and plant it in my borders to view, to eat and caress. I love sensory gardens. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  23. Just got the first plant this weekend. I had never heard of lamb’s ear. I love the way it feels and it’s good to know that it has medicinal properties. I definitely will get it planted soon.

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  24. . I have a big pile of lambs ear and didn’t know what the purpose was for them other than they were unique, mine are about two feet tall and a spread of about eight feet long, they have pretty purple blooms on the top, my question is where does the seeds come from? Is it the flower after it dries up? We got ours wwith the root already on it from another person. TThanks for the info!

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  25. Over the past several years I have become to dislike lamb’s ear immensely. Now I am rethinking this plant because of the properties it has.

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    • I have a rabbit in my yard and he stayed away from the lambs ears … until winter when everything else was dead and then he started in on them. They are very resilient and keep putting up new growth after the rabbit eats them down.

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  26. The house I moved into has a lot of Wooly Lamb’s Ear growing all over the place. I was wondering about them and what they could be used for. Thank you for sharing so much information about them. I think I’ll try drying them and using them as a tea.

    Reply
  27. Thank you for the information on Lambs ear, How about dogs, chickens and rabbits digesting them as they roam through some of my gardens

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    • Yes he does. I believe there are so many plants and other things out there that could help and heal us if we only knew what they were.

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  28. I love your blog and I love Lambs ear too! It’s my favorite herb in our very little homestead. I just finished reading your what to grow in shade post and wanted to let you know I had good success with Lambs Ear in shade. We are in zone 9 and now I have them in full sun but I have been propagating to shadier spots because they stay soft and luscious all summer in shady spots and tend to get leggy in full sun in zone 9. I can’t wait to read more of your blog.

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  29. This article was so great and right on time for me. I had been searching online trying to fine the name for my plant for some time. Yesterday was my lucky day, not only found the name, but so many uses. I am so into natural healing.

    Thank you, thank you, thank you,
    DJ

    Reply
  30. Thanks for this article! I have some of these growing in 1 of my beds and thought of them as ornamental. I saved the seeds today, I’ll be planting them in the front yard this spring! The deer demolish everything up there! I can’t wait to finally have something pretty there. Medicinal and deer resistant….who knew!
    Thanks!
    ~L

    Reply
  31. I never knew. I loved it as a kid because it was so soft, but had no idea it was anything more than ornamental!

    Reply
  32. I just KNEW this plant had some good uses. Thankyou for sharing how to propogate it. I have one huge clump. It is very drought tolerant. I always thought it would make good TP, if things ever got that bad…. but now I know so much more about this beautiful plant. Thankyou again!

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