There are many Think hardscaping too To create a low-maintenance yard that doesn’t require constant weeding. But, if you prefer a softer, greener look, groundcover might be more your style. Groundcovers have the advantage of filling your yard with dense growth that won’t allow other weeds to establish themselves, and they can help keep your yard cool in the summer and green year-round. Creeping thyme has long been a popular landscaping option for lawns And garden borders, with their beautiful purple flowers and light maintenance needs. But there is another groundcover that is just as beautiful and fragrant and brings unique color and texture to your garden: lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina).
Native to the Middle East, lamb’s ear, also called donkey’s ear or sheep’s wool, is a herb in the mint family that is evergreen in warm climates. Hardy in USDA growing zones 4 through 9, this plant has broad, fuzzy, gray-green leaves that feel wonderful to the touch, which is why it’s a favorite in children’s and sensory gardens. In addition to being tender, this plant can blow up to 18-inch sprays of fragrant pink or purple flowers, depending on the cultivar. And there are many cultivars to choose from, all of which enjoy well-drained soil and plenty of sun.
Caring for lamb’s ears
What makes lamb’s ears low maintenance is that they are deer and rabbit resistant and drought tolerant. In fact, with high humidity or overwatering, the leaves can dry out and rot. But if you keep it nice and dry, you won’t need to do much to this plant other than the occasional tidy up by removing dead leaves. Fertilizer is not necessary.
Once planted, they will quickly fill the space. This makes them a great landscape border plant anywhere you don’t want to spend time weeding or watering. In the right climate, these plants can actually be aggressive spreaders, which can be perfect for large spaces you want to fill, but can be a management problem if you don’t want them to occupy.
If you don’t like tall blooms and want a low-growing plant, check out the cultivars “Helen Von Stein” or “Silver Carpet,” which grow in short, dense clusters of large fuzzy leaves that rarely bloom. You can too Practice deadheading Flower spikes emerge to keep your lamb’s ears in check. But pollinators love flowers, so if you want more bees and butterflies in your garden, be sure to let them bloom.
