PlantFiles: Lamb's Ear
Stachys byzantina 'Silver Carpet'

There seems to be some confusion about the different cultivars of Lamb's ear. This is one of the non-blooming, sterile cultivars that does not reseed or attract bees, etc; there are several available. Seems happy where I have it and hopefully will spread to fill in as a ground cover there.

I've found this plant very invasive (NE OH). It is planted in a bed that receives full sun. It has covered the bed, choked my blue start junipers to death, spread into the lawn. Even if I shovel it out and cart it away it grows anywhere a small piece is dropped and left. It needs to be well maintained to keep it where you want it (unless you want it everywhere). If you are looking for a fast spread plant, this is a good one. Also, Cleveland gets a lot of rainy weather and they don't look great during a wet spring or fall, they can get very mushy and nasty looking when they aren't dry. The only way to get rid of them is with round-up or vegetation killer. I've dug out the bed twice and they are still prolific. They refill the bed within the same season!

I actually have a different variety since Silver Carpet is the one that does not bloom. Mine blooms in purple spikes. Bees love it. It grows here in Missouri very well. Only problem I have had is that it spreads steadily. My two small plants spread to a bigger patch than I wanted, over about three years. I have to go out with a shovel and dig some of it up every now and then when it spreads onto the lawn--a good way to get some to plant in other areas. Mine grows wonderfully in full sun; I've heard from others in this area that they had it in shade and it never grew very well. Never needs extra watering, just rain; pretty much a no-brainer plant. Stays fairly green over the winter.

Has very small purple/blue flowers on spikes up to six inches long in spring. Is excellent for attracting honey bees to your garden. Cut back after flowering and it will send up new growth quite quickly.

This is a beautiful plant. The leaves are very soft and fuzzy. Used this as corner plants in my front yard display. Wasnt sure it would survive at first, but the second week of introduction to its new home my fuzzy plants had firmmed up and begun to spread its leaves.YEAH!