Home - Garden
The Grass Alternative That's As
Soft As A Lamb's Ear
By KATE NICHOLSON
To enjoy the benefit of a beautiful yard with far less cost or maintenance required than a traditional grass lawn, consider cultivating a hardy lamb’s ear groundcover.
Lamb's ear, or Stachys byzantina, is a perennial that grows well in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9, though it may die back in areas with harsh winters.
Its leaves are covered in soft, silvery blue hairs. It’s considered a groundcover since its thick foliage rarely grows taller than 8 inches, except for its tall summer flowers.
Lamb’s ear thrives in dry conditions, can be used to stabilize soil banks and cover septic tanks, and is able to withstand light foot traffic, although much less than lawn grass.
The purple, pollen-filled flowers it produces in summer attract pollinators like bees, while its hairy leaves are unappetizing to herbivore pests. It’s also safe for your pets.
You can grow lamb's ear easily from seed, seedlings, mature plants, or a divided root ball. Plant it after the last frost through to the end of fall in full sun to partial shade.
Only plant your lamb’s ear in dry areas, as it hates boggy conditions and is susceptible to rot. When it dies back in about four years, divide it to end up with lots more plants.