Stachys byzantina

Stachys byzantina is nicknamed "lamb's ear" for the softness of its silvery-grey woolly foliage that we big kids like to stroke like the fur of a small animal. This perennial ground cover quickly forms a very dense, evergreen carpet, providing a beautiful touch of elegance to rocky and dry areas of the garden throughout the year, which are often difficult to plant. From spring to summer, its equally grey and woolly spike-like inflorescences bear tiny pink-violet flowers. Its cultivation is very simple, and its water needs are low. Don't hesitate to plant lamb's ears; even children will love it!

Stachys byzantina (synonym: Stachys lanata) is a plant from the Lamiaceae family. This perennial plant with trailing rhizomes is native to Eurasian calcicolous meadows, and it is distributed from Iran to Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. It prefers well-drained but preferably loose and deep soil. It is highly resistant to cold and is well adapted to summer drought. Its fast-growing trailing rootstock produces basal rosettes of long oval leaves, measuring 10cm (4in) long and 2.5cm (1in) wide, with crenate margins, entirely covered with woolly and very soft bristles. The foliage reaches a height of 20 to 25cm (8 to 10in). When it rains, the green colour of the lamina reappears under this grey fuzz. The drier the soil, the lighter, even almost white, the foliage will appear. Flowering takes place from June to August, depending on the region. The rosettes produce cottony-looking flower spikes. Their square section stem, 40cm (16in) tall, bears small leaves that become shorter towards the top. At their tip, a 10 to 22cm (4 to 9in) long spike develops, composed of numerous tiny flowers grouped in clusters. Their pink-violet colour is almost smothered by white wool.

Stachys byzantina is perfect in a dry garden, without watering, or in a not too arid rockery. Ornamental all year round, it forms beautiful velvety and carefree carpets that enhance all companion plants. It can be planted en masse along a path or used to edge a flower bed composed of perennial or shrubby salvias, linear-leaved plants, lavenders, Nepeta, ground cover roses, ornamental Allium, lilies, wallflowers, and many others. It only requires well-drained soil and sunlight. Along the edge of a mineral bed, it can be paired with sedums, Stipa tenuifolia, yarrows, or euphorbias.