Lambs Ear
Stachys byzantina. Perennial. 12".
Also called Wooly Betony, medicinal herb and ground cover. Lambs Ear is a low growing mat forming herb. Grown more for silvery leaves than for the non-descript purple flowers. I love this plant, feeling the leaves is just like stroking the ears of a lamb, furry and soft! Extremely drought tolerant. Zones 4 to 7.
Planting Directions: Sow seed indoors 8-10 weeks before your last frost. Sown seed should be barely covered in a sterile seed starting mix with a soil temperature of 70°. Direct sow in the garden in early spring when ground can be worked. Transplant outdoors when soil is cool and a light frost is still possible and in full sun to part shade. . Plant in well prepared soil that has been amended with rich compost or a general garden fertilizer. Thin plants to 8-12” apart. Will tolerate dry conditions but performs best in well-drained soil.