Stachys byzantina - Oreille de Lapin, Oreille d'ours, Oreille d'agneau, Epiaire laineuse, Epiaire byzantine
Stachys byzantina - Oreille de Lapin, Oreille d'ours, Oreille d'agneau, Epiaire laineuse, Epiaire byzantine
Stachys byzantina
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Description
Nicknamed donkey's ear, bear's ear or lamb's ear, Stachys byzantina is a perennial plant with silvery foliage, soft as fur. Highly prized for its spreading habit and original texture, it forms a decorative and easy-going groundcover. Its evergreen foliage in mild climates enhances borders and rockeries. Hardy and drought-resistant, it adapts wonderfully to dry, Mediterranean or naturalistic gardens.
Stachys byzantina belongs to the Lamiaceae family, just like sages and mints. This perennial and rhizomatous plant is native to the mountainous and rocky regions of the Middle East, particularly Turkey, Armenia, Iran and Azerbaijan.
Lamb's ear forms a dense groundcover through its underground stems (rhizomatous) and its thick, oblong to elliptical leaves, measuring 5 to 10 cm long, covered in silvery-grey silky hairs, with a characteristic velvety texture. The leaves are arranged in basal rosettes, with erect, quadrangular flowering stems reaching 40 to 80 cm in height. Flowering occurs from May to July, depending on the climate. It takes the form of terminal spikes 10 to 22 cm long bearing very small tubular, bilabiate flowers of a pinkish-purple colour. Pollination is mainly carried out by bees. Stachys byzantina has rapid growth. It reaches 10 cm in height (for the foliage) and spreads 0.5 to 1 m, or even more. The foliage is semi-evergreen to evergreen depending on the climate. It may disappear in case of intense frost, only to regrow the following spring.
With its silky foliage and spreading habit, lamb's ear is an excellent plant for dry borders, rockeries, gravel edges or gardens with a Mediterranean inspiration. In open ground, it spreads naturally to form a silver carpet of great effect, highlighting the summer blooms of lavenders, lavender cottons, yarrows or Russian sages. It also pairs very well with fine-leaved grasses like Stipa pulcherrima for a play of textures with lightness. In pots, its cultivation is still possible, but it is less durable there: its rhizomatous system needs space to develop fully.
Flowering
Foliage
Plant habit
Botanical data
Stachys
byzantina
Lamiaceae
Stachys olympica, Stachys lanata
Eastern Europe, Caucasus, West Asia
Planting and care
Sowing Stachys byzantina is carried out in spring or autumn, either directly in the ground or under cover. The fine, light seeds should simply be pressed onto the surface of a light, well-drained growing medium, without being covered, as they need light to germinate. Germination usually takes between 2 to 4 weeks at a temperature of 18 to 22°C.
For planting, choose a spot in full sun, although the plant tolerates light shade, especially in regions with very hot summers. The soil should be well-drained, even poor, as lamb's ear dislikes stagnant moisture which can cause root rot. It adapts to a wide range of pH levels, from slightly acidic to chalky. Avoid soil that is too rich or too damp, which can hinder its growth.
Stachys byzantina is undemanding. Once established, the plant is drought-resistant and only requires moderate watering. It is advisable to avoid overwatering and to favour watering at the base to keep the foliage dry and prevent fungal diseases. Clearing away damaged foliage at the end of winter encourages beautiful new shoots in spring.
Propagation is easily done by dividing clumps in spring or autumn. This operation also helps to rejuvenate young plants and control their spread, as lamb's ear can expand rapidly thanks to its rootstocks.
Sowing period
Intended location
Planting & care advice
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
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The flowering period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions located in USDA zone 8 (France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, etc.)
It will vary according to where you live:
- In zones 9 to 10 (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), flowering will occur about 2 to 4 weeks earlier.
- In zones 6 to 7 (Germany, Poland, Slovenia, and lower mountainous regions), flowering will be delayed by 2 to 3 weeks.
- In zone 5 (Central Europe, Scandinavia), blooming will be delayed by 3 to 5 weeks.
In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions located in USDA zone 8 (France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands).
It will vary according to where you live:
- In Mediterranean zones (Marseille, Madrid, Milan, etc.), autumn and winter are the best planting periods.
- In continental zones (Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, etc.), delay planting by 2 to 3 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 2 to 4 weeks in autumn.
- In mountainous regions (the Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians, etc.), it is best to plant in late spring (May-June) or late summer (August-September).
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.