Lamb's Ears Plant Care
Stachys bombycina Boiss.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Stachys bombycina is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae endemic to the SW coastal regions of Turkey. It was first published in 1853.
Full sun to partial shade
At a glance
How do you care for Lamb's Ears?
Plant Lamb's Ears in full sun to partial shade.
Where Is the Lamb's Ears Native To?
What Is the Lamb's Ears?
Lamb's Ears (Stachys bombycina) belongs to the Lamiaceae family within the Stachys genus. Lamb's Ears is native to the SW coastal regions of Turkey. Lamb's Ears is also known as Woolly Betony.
Lamb's Ears displays a low rosette, spreading growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Lamb's Ears produces small tubular flowers in shades of pink, purple, or white.
What Light Does the Lamb's Ears Need?
Lamb's Ears thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Lamb's Ears?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Lamb's Ears to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
Where Should You Plant a Lamb's Ears?
Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.
Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.
How Do You Prune a Lamb's Ears?
Prune Lamb's Ears while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.
If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.
How Do You Care for a Lamb's Ears in Winter?
Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.
Young and container-grown shrubs need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.
How Do You Propagate a Lamb's Ears?
Lamb's Ears can be propagated through division, stem cuttings, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to annual betony plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Lamb's Ears Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Lamb's Ears, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Lamb's Ears?
Lamb's Ears is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Lamb's Ears is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Stachys genus — compare its care with other Stachys species on PlantoScan.
Stachys is part of the Lamiaceae plant family — browse all Lamiaceae genera and species.
Lamb's Ears thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Stachys Species
Other Stachys species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Stachys bombycina Boiss., family Lamiaceae (first published in Diagn. Pl. Orient. 12: 79 (1853)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Lamb's Ears, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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