How to Grow a Lamb's Ear Plant
If you're looking for an interesting plant to grow in your garden, one perennial plant you might want to try is lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina). The dusty gray plant is named for its fuzzy leaves, which resemble the shape and feel of a real lamb's ear. Small purple blossoms appear on the plant in late spring or early summer. Lamb's ear grows quickly once established, and many people use it as a border plant for gardens. Enhance your garden by growing this perennial ground cover. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Start your seeds indoors about six weeks before the last expected frost in your area. Plant these seeds between 1/4 and 1/8 inch deep in average potting soil. Use peat pots to avoid transplant shock when you relocate them outside. Water well and place in a sunny location. Keep these seedlings slightly moist while they are getting established.
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Select a garden location that provides plenty of sunshine and will allow the plant to spread. Lamb's ear can tolerate full sun as long as the soil does not dry out. Too much acidity in the soil is not healthy for this perennial.
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Mix compost into the topsoil to provide adequate nutrients and drainage for your lamb's ear plants. Add fine sand to soils that contain lots of clay. Place your lamb's ear seedlings into the garden after all danger of frost has passed.
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Water your seedlings immediately after transplanting. Add a fine layer of mulch around the base of these plants. Water your lamb's ear plants every few days until they become established. The ground should be kept just slightly moist, not wet.
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Trim back your lamb's ears when they begin to spread. Like most ground covers, this plant can spread in the garden if not restrained. Use sharp garden shears to regularly nip off outside stems and leaves.
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Gather seeds in the fall to start new plants indoors the following spring. These plants may also be propagated by digging up and dividing root sections.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't use sprinklers to water lamb's ear because too much water on the leaves can cause unsightly spotting.
