Wooly Lamb's Ear

Stachys byzantina

herb

Wooly lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina) is grown above all for its leaves: thick, soft, silvery, and densely felted with woolly white hairs that are irresistible to touch, forming a spreading mat with occasional spikes of small pink-purple flowers. A tough, drought-loving perennial in the mint family, it is a favorite edging and groundcover plant, and an old cottage plant whose soft, absorbent leaves earned it the name woundwort. It loves heat, sun, and dry, lean soil, asks almost nothing, and spreads steadily into a weed-smothering silver carpet.

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

• Yarrow — A fellow drought-hardy, sun-loving herb that shares the lean, dry, well-drained bed
• Lavender — Loves the same hot, dry conditions and pairs beautifully with the silver foliage
• English Thyme — A low Mediterranean herb that knits along the edge of the lamb-s-ear mat

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

• Leaf rot →

  The main problem - the woolly leaves rot in wet, humid, or crowded conditions; keep the soil dry and lean and thin matted growth

• Slugs →

  Can shelter and feed under the dense mat in damp weather - rake it out and use grit or traps

🌾 Harvest & storage

Pick the soft leaves anytime through the growing season, choosing clean, dry, unblemished ones. They can be used fresh or dried, though they are most valued fresh for their absorbent softness. Shearing the plant also yields a flush of fresh leaves and keeps the mat dense.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

Lamb's ear is grown as an ornamental rather than a food - the soft, absorbent leaves gave it its old name, woundwort. In the garden its real worth is as a drought-proof silver groundcover that smothers weeds, edges a bed beautifully, and draws bees when allowed to flower.