The perennial plant known as Lamb’s Ear, or Stachys byzantina, is a popular groundcover valued for its unique texture and color. Its foliage is easily recognized by its soft, woolly feel and silvery-gray appearance, which gives it the characteristic look for which it is named. Gardeners often select this species to add tactile contrast and brightness to their landscapes. A common concern for those planting in areas with wildlife is whether this distinctive plant becomes a food source for local deer populations.
Lamb’s Ear and Deer Resistance
Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina) is widely recognized in horticulture as highly resistant to deer browsing. While no plant is completely immune to being sampled, it is reliably low on a deer’s list of preferred forage items. The consensus among experts is that deer seldom cause significant damage to established plantings. Deer typically select more palatable plants before choosing the textured leaves of Lamb’s Ear.
The consistent avoidance of Lamb’s Ear by local deer populations is a reason for its popularity in suburban and rural gardens. This resistance is not a guarantee against all browsing, but it sets a strong expectation for minimal feeding damage compared to preferred plants like hostas or daylilies. This status as a seldom-damaged species is tied directly to the specific physical and chemical defenses it possesses.
Characteristics That Deter Deer
The primary mechanism deterring deer from consuming Lamb’s Ear is the plant’s dense, fuzzy covering of fine hairs, known as a tomentose texture. These numerous trichomes give the leaves a soft, velvety feel to human touch but create an unpleasant sensation for a grazing animal. When a deer attempts to chew the foliage, the woolly texture feels dry and scratchy in the mouth. This physical barrier discourages repeated consumption.
The plant’s defense system is further supported by chemical attributes that affect its taste and scent. Deer rely heavily on smell to select food, and plants with strong or unusual odors are often passed over. Lamb’s Ear foliage contains compounds that contribute to an unpleasantly aromatic quality, making the plant distasteful even before the deer begins to chew. This combination of challenging physical texture and off-putting flavor makes the plant unrewarding for a deer to consume.
Situations Where Deer Might Still Browse
While Lamb’s Ear is highly resistant, no plant is absolutely deer-proof. Deer may still browse the foliage under certain environmental circumstances. The most common cause is extreme hunger, which occurs when preferred food sources become scarce. During periods of severe drought, heavy snow cover, or high local deer populations, the animals become less selective and will sample plants they normally ignore.
Young or juvenile deer also tend to be less experienced in identifying unpalatable plants and may try nibbling on Lamb’s Ear out of curiosity. They may test the foliage before moving on to better options. Furthermore, feeding habits can vary regionally, meaning a plant left alone in one area might be sampled in another based on local forage availability. New plantings are also sometimes sampled as deer investigate changes in their environment, even if they quickly learn the plant is undesirable.