How to Grow Lamb's Ears
Stachys lanata
Lamb's ears is a low-growing evergreen perennial prized for its thick, silvery-white woolly leaves that feel like velvet. It forms dense mats of ground cover in full sun and well-drained soil. Tolerates drought, poor soil, and neglect. Some gardeners remove the flower spikes to keep the foliage tidy; others enjoy the soft purple blooms. Divide congested clumps every 3–4 years.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
No feeding required. Lamb's ears thrives in poor soil and excess fertility produces lush but floppy growth prone to rot.
Watch For
- Crown rot in wet winter soils or heavy clay
- Leaf rot in prolonged wet weather
- Bare patches developing in centre of old clumps
Track your Lamb's Ears care schedule — pruning, feeding, and seasonal tasks
Start planning freeCare Requirements
☀️ Light
Full sun to light shade
Lamb's ears performs best in full sun, where the silver foliage is most intense and the plant stays compact. It tolerates light dappled shade but becomes lax and more prone to rot in deep shade.
💧 Watering
Drought-tolerant once established; water sparingly and always at the base
Once established, lamb's ears needs little supplemental watering. Water only during extended dry spells, always at the base of the plant — wet foliage promotes crown and leaf rot in the UK's cool, overcast climate.
🌱 Fertilizing
No feeding required
Lamb's ears thrives in poor, lean soil. Feeding with nitrogen-rich fertilisers produces soft, floppy growth that is prone to rotting and loses the compact, silvery appearance that makes this plant desirable.
✂️ Pruning
Remove tatty leaves and spent flower spikes as needed
Pull away damaged or rotting leaves throughout the year, especially after wet periods. Cut flower spikes at the base after blooming if you prefer a tidy foliage mat; leave them for bees and ornamental texture if preferred.
❄️ Overwintering
Semi-evergreen and generally hardy; protect from winter wet rather than cold
The main winter risk is prolonged wet, not frost. Ensure excellent drainage before winter and consider covering the crown loosely with a cloche or grit mulch in areas with heavy clay or persistent rain. In mild UK winters the foliage persists; after hard frosts it may look tatty but usually recovers in spring.
Growing Tips
Prioritise drainage above all else
Lamb's ears rots in wet, heavy soil. Plant in raised beds, gravel borders, or add horticultural grit liberally before planting. This single step prevents the most common cause of plant loss in UK gardens.
Remove flower spikes for neater foliage
Unless you want to attract bees, cut flower spikes off at the base as they emerge in early summer. This keeps the silver carpet tidy and prevents the plant from going straggly.
Divide every 3–4 years
Clumps die out in the centre over time, leaving bare patches. Lift in spring, discard the dead centre, and replant fresh outer rosettes 35–40 cm apart for a rejuvenated mat.
Avoid overhead watering
Water at the base, never on the leaves. Wet woolly foliage stays damp for hours and triggers crown rot and leaf rot, especially during cool, overcast UK spells.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Vine Weevil
Identification: Irregular notches eaten from leaf edges by adult beetles (April–September); white C-shaped grubs in the root zone cause sudden wilting and plant collapse, especially in containers.
- Apply pathogenic nematodes (Steinernema kraussei or Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) to moist soil in late August to October.
- Inspect the root zone when dividing clumps and destroy any grubs found by hand.
- Drench the root zone with a thiacloprid or acetamiprid-based vine weevil killer in spring or autumn.
Pest Slugs and Snails
Identification: Irregular holes in leaves and slime trails on the woolly foliage, most active after rain or in humid conditions.
- Scatter iron phosphate pellets around plants; safe for wildlife and pets.
- Place copper tape or grit barriers around valued plants.
- Apply metaldehyde or methiocarb pellets sparingly in the evening when slugs are active.
Disease Crown Rot Phytophthora spp.
Symptoms: Rosette centres turn mushy and brown, often with a foul smell; affected leaves collapse and die; the problem spreads outward from the crown during prolonged wet weather.
Treatment: Remove and dispose of affected rosettes immediately. Improve drainage by lifting the clump and replanting in gritty soil or a raised position. No effective fungicide is available to home gardeners.
Prevention: Plant in very well-drained soil; avoid mulching directly against the crown; never water over the foliage.
Disease Leaf Rot Botrytis cinerea
Symptoms: Grey mould on leaf surfaces and stems; affected tissue turns brown and collapses; worst in cool, damp, poorly ventilated conditions.
Treatment: Remove affected leaves promptly. Thin dense clumps to improve air circulation. Apply a copper-based or sulphur fungicide spray if infection is widespread.
Prevention: Avoid overhead watering; remove dead leaves regularly; divide congested clumps to open up the plant.
Log Lamb's Ears in your garden — track growth, care, and harvests year after year
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