Lamb's ear earns its name from its soft, silvery-grey, felted leaves — a texture children and gardeners alike can't resist touching, and one that reflects sun beautifully in a border planting.
Native to the Middle East, lamb's ear is a low-growing perennial groundcover valued for its fuzzy, drought-tolerant foliage, forming a soft silver carpet that pairs well with almost any flower color in the border.
Lamb's ear wants full sun and well-draining soil — it's remarkably drought-tolerant once established but prone to rot in humid climates with poor air circulation. Dividing clumps every few years keeps the planting vigorous and prevents the center from dying out.
Removing lamb's ear's tall flower spikes as they appear keeps the plant's energy focused on its signature soft foliage rather than seed production.
