Lamb's Ears is a silvery-soft perennial that belongs in the front of every border, grown for its extraordinarily touchable foliage rather than its flowers. The 'Silky Fleece' cultivar forms a densely spreading mat of thick, velvety, silver-gray leaves that stay evergreen in mild climates but will thin in harsh winters. Hardy from zones 5 to 8, it reaches just 3 to 9 inches tall and spreads 6 to 9 inches wide, making it an excellent choice for edging and ground cover work. In summer, small purplish-pink flower spikes rise above the foliage, though many gardeners remove them to keep the focus on the stunning leaves.
Full Sun
Moderate
5-8
9in H x 9in W
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Moderate
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Run your hand across Lamb's Ears and you'll understand why it's been beloved in gardens for centuries. The thick, soft, velvety texture of its silver-gray foliage is the real attraction here; the tiny flowers that appear in summer are almost beside the point. This cultivar thrives in full sun and poor, well-drained soil where other plants struggle, spreading steadily to create a silvery carpet that's utterly drought tolerant and unfazed by deer or rabbits. It's the kind of plant that earns its space through pure tactile charm and bulletproof reliability.
Lamb's Ears excels as a ground cover, weaving silvery ribbons through garden beds and softening hard edges along pathways. Its low, spreading habit makes it ideal for naturalizing in rock gardens and dry banks, where its drought tolerance allows it to thrive where lawn struggles. Gardeners often use it as a textural anchor in front of taller perennials, letting its woolly foliage create a silvery frame for deeper flower colors.
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Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Keep soil temperature between 60 and 75°F for germination. Maintain consistent moisture until seedlings emerge, then reduce watering slightly.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed. Space plants 6 to 9 inches apart. Handle carefully as young transplants can be tender.
Remove flower stems in mid-summer if you prefer the plant to focus energy on its foliage display rather than seed production. This also helps reduce moisture buildup on the leaves in humid climates. Cut back any diseased or damaged foliage promptly to prevent rot from spreading through the mat.
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