Helen von Stein makes a great foliar accent as it is grown for its large, fuzzy, silver leaves. This is a great edging plant with a uniform, mounding habit. Non-blooming so it doesn't reseed. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant .
8" tall x 15-18" wide. Stachys byzantina 'Helen Von Stein' A mounding, large-leafed version of common Lamb's Ear with large soft silver leaves. Easily grown in any average to poor garden soil that has good drainage. It rarely flowers and is a great choice to replace standard lamb's ears (which reseeds and becomes weedy). Not recommended for regions with hot, humid summers, as the woolly foliage will "melt" from the humidity. Good for Firescaping (cutting propagated)
Planting Guides
Growing Stachys (Lambs Ear)
Stachys (Lambs Ear) is a big family of primarily Old World perennials that bloom from late spring into mid-summer (depending on the variety) and are easy-to-grow. They are resistant to browsing rabbits and deer.
Preferred growing conditions:
• Stachys grow well in most any type of soil including clay that doesn't sit wet.
• Mulch with common mulching materials.
• Most do well with regular irrigation to keep the soil moderately moist. But the gray fuzzy-leafed Stachys byzantina and cultivars are quite drought tolerant and grow well in dry shade.
• Plant in full sun or part sun. Some can grow in more shade.
• Just a few handfuls of compost and Yum Yum Mix in the planting hole is enough. Lambs Ear doesn't like rich, compost enhanced soils.
Special comments:
• Some seed grown species can re-seed vigorously and should be deadheaded.
• Varieties that spread by underground roots (groundcover types) are easily divided to propagate more plants and restrict their spread in the garden.
Garden Care:
• Fertilize in the fall with Yum Yum Mix and good quality compost.
• Deadheading is not necessary.
• Stachys byzantina should be cut back in late fall; the fuzzy foliage can rot over the winter/early spring in moister climates.
• Other groundcover types (S. maxima) need only to be deadheaded after blooming. Large patches can be mowed with a lawn mower with mowing deck set high.