How big does Lamb's ear grow?

About 50 cm × 1 m after ten years (height × width).

What soil does Lamb's ear grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, sandy, calcareous.

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

When does Lamb's ear flower?

Flowering: May–August, pink, purple.

How much water does Lamb's ear need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

Lamb's ear

Stachys byzantina

Lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina) is a ground cover plant that reaches 50 cm × 1 m after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Sold in local shops from about €4.

Illustration of Lamb's ear — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

Its soft, thickly woolly, silver-grey leaves form a low, spreading carpet that children love to stroke; in summer it sends up grey, felted stems with small pinkish purple flowers that bees are very fond of. It belongs in a sunny, dry, lean, free-draining spot as edging, in a rock garden or gravel bed, and it handles drought extremely well. Wet is another matter: do not water it from above or plant it in heavy, damp soil, because the hairy foliage soaks up moisture and rots.

Watch out for

Its main trouble is rot: the woolly leaves hold water, so in humid, rainy summers, with overhead watering, in shade or in heavy, wet soil the foliage and crown rot, leaf spots develop and the middle of the mat dies out. In Central Europe this shows up mostly in wet summers and damp, snowless winters; pick out rotting leaves and plant it only where drainage is very good. Powdery mildew and slug damage also occur. Divide it every few years because the centre goes bare; in good soil it spreads by rooting stems and by seed, so it is worth cutting off the flower stems once they fade.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Low
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 50 cm × 1 m
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Semi-evergreen
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D May–August, pink, purple

Group	Ground cover
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	50 cm × 1 m
Ultimate size	20–50 cm × 0.3–1 m
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Semi-evergreen
Flowering	May–August, pink, purple
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	35 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	from about €4

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €4

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

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