As a horticulturalist, I tend to be easily distracted by plants.  When I am out walking, I make frequent pitstops to check out a neat plant.  Or when I am driving down the road, I have to resist stopping to check out different trees.  It is a real problem!

One plant that I can never resist pausing for is Lamb’s ear!  Those soft, velvety leaves are just too hard to resist.  I have some in my flower beds, and I stop to pet it frequently.  I am sure that is why it is growing so well!

Lamb’s ear (stachys byzantina) is a great perennial for Texas.  I have a variety called “Helen Von Stein” or “Big Ears.”  Lamb’s Ear s about 10-12 inches tall and spreads to 18-30 inches wide.  The silvery green leaves provide a good contract as a border or mass planting, and I have even used it as a ground cover.

Lamb’s ear will put out spikes of purple blooms in the spring and summer.  It does well in full sun and is drought tolerant once it is established.  This plant does a little better if it has some afternoon shade, but I have noticed that it perks back up in the evening after the hot, Texas sun goes down.  Lamb’s ear tolerates temperatures below freezing, so it does well in winter.  It can be sensitive to too much water, and you’ll see some of the foliage rot in wet sites or when we get too much rain.

When you are choosing plants for your landscape, it is a good idea to have some contrast in leaf texture and shades of green.  Lamb’s ear provides a soft texture when paired with brighter plants like coreopsis or even against the dark green of rosemary.  If you have children, I think this is a fun plant to include for something soft and fuzzy in the landscape.  Even this big kid can’t resist it!

For more landscape plant ideas, be sure to check out http://texassuperstar.com/ for a list of plants that do well all over Texas.  You can also call the Williamson County AgriLife Extension office at 512-943-3300 for our list of native and adapted plants for Central Texas.