How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Lamb’s Ear Plants

Lamb’s ear might just be the perfect perennial. It’s low-maintenance, its flowers attract pollinators, and its distinct, fuzzy leaves aren’t easy to forget. It’s both a ground cover species and a flowering plant, making it a versatile option that fits into any garden or container.

As long as you keep its leaves fairly dry, this species is resistant to most pests and diseases. It is unbothered by drought, poor soil, and even mild pollution. There are plenty of cultivars and varieties of this perennial, so you can pick your favorite. What more could you ask for?

Planting, growing, and caring for lamb’s ear is a breeze. So much so it is considered an invasive species in certain parts of North America. For those outside its invasive range, this plant is incredibly reliable. Once established, you’ll find it’s a reliable staple in your garden. 

What Is It?

Lamb’s ear is an herbaceous perennial with soft, fuzzy leaves that resemble the ears of a lamb. It’s appreciated for both its soft leaves and for its dainty, silvery appearance. It is usually used as ornamental ground cover, as the plant clumps and spreads over time. These plants are native to rocky, arid regions, making them well-suited to poor soils.

When I was young, my mother grew lamb’s ear at the end of our driveway near the mailbox, where it thrived with little maintenance. I would admire it while I waited for the bus each day. It was one of the first plants I could identify, and it still holds a soft spot in my heart.

Characteristics

A member of the mint family, this perennial is prized for its soft, silvery leaves and for its flowers that attract butterflies and other pollinators. It’s also quite versatile, as you can plant it in poor soil and in multiple sun exposures. This perennial comes back year after year with minimal care, needing just a little water to get by.

It’s also a great companion plant. As clumping ground cover, it can prevent weed growth around other plants, while its flowers bring pollinators to your garden. Its fuzzy leaves stand out as a memorable feature.

Native Area

Lamb’s ear is native to the regions of Armenia, Iran, and Turkey, where there is a fairly extreme swing in temperature from summer to winter and where the air is quite dry. These plants grow on arid, rocky hillsides in dry, well-draining soils, with little precipitation. This makes these silvery ground covers adaptable to poor soils in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9.

Planting

Lamb’s ear grows both in the ground and in containers as long as the soil drains freely. If you’re struggling to find a plant that thrives in an area of poor soil on your property, this may be the answer. Avoid clay soils, and make sure to choose an area that gets at least partial sunlight.

The plant will spread as an attractive, fuzzy ground cover over time when planted in the ground, with creeping stems that form clusters. It also functions as a fun filler in containers and is the perfect choice in an arrangement with old soil.

Transplanting

Simply dig a hole that is about the same size as the root ball or slightly bigger, gently place your plant in the hole, and backfill with well-draining soil. Water thoroughly after transplanting. Maintain about one or two feet between each specimen to give them room to settle. You can plant them closer for a bushier look without causing harm, too.

Growing from Seed

Starting from seed can be tricky but is not impossible. You can direct sow seeds outdoors once the threat of frost has passed, but they will likely germinate faster indoors in a controlled environment. The seeds take up to a month to germinate and need light to do so. 

How to Grow

These fuzzy herbaceous plants are easy to grow. Choose an area with some sunlight, plant in decent, well-draining soil, and watch this clumping, soft-leaved perennial come back year after year with minimal effort.

Light

This species grows best in full sun to partial shade. Ideally, this plant would get at least six hours of direct sun per day, with some afternoon shade. Gardeners in hotter perennial zones, like 8 and 9, should grow this perennial somewhere where it will be protected from the hottest sun of the day.

Water

This drought-tolerant perennial species doesn’t need much water. If your area is receiving average precipitation, watering a mature plant is unnecessary. Even during dry periods, water only about one inch per week.

Avoid watering unless the soil is totally dry, and always water at the base of the plant, avoiding the leaves. Wet leaves are subject to leaf rot. 

Soil

Lamb’s ear grows on rocky hillsides in their native habitat, so it’s crucial that they be planted in well-draining soil. Wet, clay soils can kill this species. When planting in the ground, ensure that the soil drains freely, and when planting in containers, consider chunky soil mixes and clay or terracotta pots with drainage holes.

Regarding nutrients, these plants don’t need much. While a yearly dose of compost or a similar soil amendment may give them a slight boost, it’s not necessary. There is no need to seek out fertilizer-enriched soil.

Temperature and Humidity

The ideal temperature range is somewhere between 65 and 75°F (18-24°C), though they will be just fine in temperatures much lower and somewhat higher than that. These plants are frost-tolerant and are perennial down to zone 4, where the average minimum winter temperature gets down to around -20°F (-29°C).

On the other hand, temperatures above 100°F (38°C) can be damaging. If you live in one of the hotter perennial zones, protect this species from extreme summer heat by planting it in an area protected from midday and early afternoon sun.

Regarding humidity, lamb’s ear prefers dry conditions. A little humidity won’t be a big deal, but persistent humidity and moisture can cause leaf rot. These signature, fuzzy leaves aren’t meant to be moist for long periods of time.

Fertilizing

Lamb’s ear couldn’t be more easygoing when it comes to fertilizer. It’s not really needed. While you may want to amend the soil with some compost each year to give the plant some encouragement, it’s not necessary.

These plants are used to poor-quality soils with minimal nutrition and will be fine if you skip fertilizer. In fact, it’s possible to over-fertilize. If this happens, you may see fertilizer building up on the soil or, worse, see the leaves turning yellow or brown.

Should you choose to feed your plant, do so in early spring, when it is starting to grow again after a long winter. Use compost or a well-balanced granular fertilizer, and work it into the soil around the plant without disturbing the leaves.

Maintenance

While it’s not an absolute must, pruning can be beneficial. During the growing season, thinning the plant with pruners or pinching new growth can increase air circulation between the leaves. This is beneficial because wet leaves can lead to leaf rot. If you live in a humid region, this can be an impactful step.

Similarly, as the growing season comes to an end in fall, you may want to prune once again to increase air circulation. This can also help prevent the fuzzy leaves from rotting, and it will inspire new growth once spring arrives again.

Deadheading will not encourage many more flowers, but it can contribute to a neater appearance. Removing the flowers before they go to seed can also reduce spread. Lamb’s ear mostly spreads via clumping, but in the right conditions, it can spread aggressively.

Propagation

Propagating this perennial is easy. You can propagate via division or with cuttings. Dividing your plant every few years is a good idea so that it doesn’t spread beyond your liking. In humid areas, where densely packed leaves may be more prone to rot, taking cuttings and dividing can also improve air circulation.

Cuttings

To start a new plant from a cutting, first identify a healthy stem on an existing plant. Choose a section that’s about half a foot long and sever it from the host plant just below a node. Cutting the stem at an angle can encourage root growth.

Once you have your selected cutting, remove the leaves from the bottom few inches of the cutting. These leaves will just end up rotting in the new medium. Plant your cutting directly where you hope to grow it. Or, pop it into a small pot filled with well-draining soil, with the intent to transplant later.

Division

The best way to divide this perennial is to dig up the entire plant and split it into as many pieces as you prefer. To do so, begin by digging up the root ball with a shovel. If the roots are seriously compacted, separate them a bit with a pitchfork before the next step.

Now, looking at the root ball, decide where you’ll want to cut. You could just divide it in two, or you could divide it into three or more clumps. Each divided section should have plenty of its own above-ground foliage as well as its own roots. Use a spade or a sharp knife to cut.

Replant your divided pieces by placing them into holes that match the size of their roots. Backfill with well-draining soil and water generously. These plants are durable and resilient, so they should bounce back from their wounds and begin growing again quickly, especially if you divide in spring.

Popular Varieties

There are multiple cultivars and varieties you can grow, each with their own unique attributes. Here are just a few:

‘Helen von Stein’ or ‘Big Ears’

The ‘Helen von Stein’ cultivar is also sometimes referred to as ‘Big Ears.’ Its leaves get slightly larger than the standard species. Growers in hotter perennial zones will appreciate ‘Helen von Stein’ because it tolerates high heat much better. This cultivar is grown more for its foliage and does not flower frequently.

‘Silver Carpet’

Similarly, this cultivar almost never blooms. If you are growing purely for fuzzy ground cover leaves, ‘Silver Carpet’ may be the choice for you. If the common species spreads rapidly in your area, a non-flowering cultivar can reduce spread via seed.

‘Cotton Balls’

‘Cotton Balls,’ conversely, is known for its flowers, which look like light purple cotton balls. This cultivar is also popular for its disease resistance and winter hardiness. Additionally, ‘Cotton Balls’ tolerates humidity better than the common species, making it an excellent choice in humid climates.

‘Primrose Heron’

Another cultivar appreciated for its flowers, ‘Primrose Heron’ produces clusters of pink, fluffy flowers. The pink flowers provide a bright contrast to the silver leaves. In spring, the foliage of ‘Primrose Heron’ actually turns yellow.

‘Silky Fleece’

‘Silky Fleece’ is actually a dwarf variety, perfect for small corners where you want to tuck in some silvery foliage. The flower stems can grow up to 10 inches tall, while the leaves themselves will only get about two or three inches tall.

‘Striped Phantom’

A variegated cultivar, ‘Striped Phantom’ sports variegated foliage with creamy mottling in the center of each leaf. The leaves grow in thick rosettes and grow up to about eight inches off the ground. This cultivar is somewhat rare and can be more difficult to find.

Common Problems

Lamb’s ear doesn’t suffer from a lot of common problems. As long as you’re in a perennial zone and have chosen the right location, you shouldn’t have issues. However, these plants can suffer from fungal issues when wet, so err on the side of keeping them dry.

In mild, dry areas where this perennial truly thrives with no effort, you may find its spread aggressive. This is easy to control between removing clumps of the plant and cutting off the flowers before they go to seed.

Pests

Fortunately, these plants aren’t popular with many pests. The fuzzy foliage is somewhat susceptible to diseases, however, and there are some pests that enjoy the rotting foliage, such as sowbugs. To avoid sowbugs, keep leaves dry.

Diseases

High humidity and consistent moisture on fuzzy leaves can lead to leaf rot. Keep the foliage dry by watering only at the base of the plant. In humid regions, prune or divide regularly to increase air circulation, further preventing fungal spread. If you suspect that your leaves are struggling with a fungal infection, try treating the plant with fungicide.

Additionally, because these plants prefer dry, well-draining soils, they can easily succumb to root rot if planted in wet, clay soils. Choose wisely when preparing soil, and avoid watering until the soil is fully dry.