Could there a be a plant more touchable than Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina zones 4-10)? The soft fuzzy texture of its pale silvery tinted foliage just invites passing people to pet its leaves. It grows fast, likes full sun, and can easily take over a garden bed so be prepared if you plant it to make many divisions to give away or to increase your ground cover. It blooms in the summer with pinkish purple blossoms but the real show is the foliage. It would be the perfect plant for a children’s garden because of its touchable texture don’t you think?
I love my Lamb's Ear,,,,it doesn't like too much water though…
You know, I really only like the leaves while they're small… Did you know there's a stachys ('hummelo') that doesn't look like this at all?? I have two plants and I really like them!
The best touchable for sure.
Love that Lamb's ear. Thanks to Tina of In the Garden I now have some that is doing great.
Lamb's Ear doesn't like full sun down in south Texas.
Anonymous,
I can see where the extra heat you have in Texas might get to it. Here in TN is does fine in full sun, and well drained soil like Darla mentioned!
ooh! I was just talking about these earlier too! Such useful plants as well (and edible 🙂
I think it's a shame if a kid grows up without these, sunflowers and strawberries!
(http://persephoneinbloom.blogspot.com/2009/09/lambs-ears-useful-and-good-pet_27.html)
I had great hopes for the golden leafed variety (sorry, I'm too tired to look it up) in one of my few sunny spots in the garden. No luck. But today I passed a neighbour's sunny garden where the large-leaf variety (ditto) was doing splendidly, looking fine at the feet of some nicely compact Sedum (aka Hylotelephium) 'Autumn Joy.' Great combination of soft grey with glaucous green capped with pinky rust.
I like the way the leaves smell when you break one apart…. just like bubble gum.