Lamb's Ears
Grown for its thick, silvery-grey woolly leaves as much as its small purple summer flower spikes. Good drainage matters more than shelter; humid or waterlogged conditions cause the foliage to rot faster than cold ever will. A reliable border edger that copes well with genuine neglect once established.
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- low
- Spacing
- 30cm
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Grows in
- Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
- Mature height
- 30cm
- Flowering season
- Jan, Feb, Dec
- Attracts wildlife
- Bees
- Evergreen
- Yes
- Companion plants
- Roses, Catmint, Sedum
- Common diseases
- Root rot and grey mould in wet or humid conditions
When to plant by region
In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: March-April and September-October. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: September-October.
Growing stages
Germination & planting
- Choose a well-drained spot; good drainage matters more than shelter from wind or cold
- Space plants around 30cm apart for its spreading, mat-forming habit
Establishment
- Water while roots establish, though mature plants need very little once settled
- Watch for rot in humid or waterlogged conditions, this causes more damage than cold
Vegetative growth
- Thick, silvery-grey woolly leaves are the main feature; humid or wet conditions can cause them to rot
- Grey mould can develop in humid weather, especially where airflow is poor
- Being evergreen, it holds its foliage year-round and needs very little upkeep once established
Flowering
- Small purple flower spikes appear in summer and draw in bees
- Some gardeners remove flower spikes to keep the silvery foliage as the main feature