Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina) is a popular perennial known for its soft, velvety, silver-gray foliage that forms a dense groundcover. Although primarily appreciated for this texture, Lamb’s Ear definitely blooms. The production of an inflorescence is a natural part of its life cycle, typically occurring once the plant has established itself.
What to Expect from Lamb’s Ear Flowers
When Lamb’s Ear flowers, it sends up distinct, vertical stalks that rise considerably above the low mat of fuzzy leaves. These spikes can reach heights of 10 to 18 inches, often more than doubling the plant’s typical 4- to 8-inch foliage height. The flower stalks themselves are also covered in the plant’s characteristic woolly hairs. The actual flowers are small, two-lipped blossoms, usually purplish-pink, though some varieties may produce white blooms. These blooms are densely packed along the spike and typically appear from late spring through mid-summer, providing a valuable source of nectar for local pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Why Gardeners Debate the Bloom
The appearance of the flower spike creates a point of contention among gardeners, largely centered on aesthetic and maintenance trade-offs. Those who favor allowing the plant to flower appreciate the added vertical structure and movement the spikes bring to a border. The blooms also contribute to the local ecosystem by attracting beneficial insects, offering a natural appearance to the landscape.
The opposing view prioritizes the plant’s signature foliage. Once the small flowers fade, the tall spikes can turn brown and look scraggly, causing the overall plant appearance to become messy. A significant biological concern is that the plant directs substantial energy toward producing these flowers and, subsequently, seeds. This expenditure of energy can sometimes lead to a reduction in the vigor of the basal foliage, causing the groundcover to thin out. Furthermore, allowing the plant to set seed can result in aggressive self-seeding and overcrowding. Many gardeners remove the spikes to ensure the plant’s resources are redirected back into maintaining the dense, attractive silver foliage.
Practical Steps for Bloom Management
Managing the flower spikes is a simple process known as deadheading, which involves removing the spent bloom stalks. This action should be performed once the spikes have visibly passed their peak, usually in early to mid-summer after the small flowers begin to fade. To execute this, a gardener simply cuts the entire stalk off at its base, down where it emerges from the main rosette of leaves.
Removing the flowering stems serves multiple purposes beyond immediate tidiness. Deadheading prevents the plant from setting seed, which effectively curtails the potential for aggressive self-seeding in the garden. It also encourages the plant’s energy to be funneled back into the roots and the production of new leaves, maintaining the desirable, dense mat of silver foliage.
The overall health of the Lamb’s Ear influences the vigor of the bloom and the plant’s recovery. Ensuring the plant is in well-drained soil and receives adequate sunlight helps it remain robust. Since the woolly leaves can trap moisture, which can lead to rot, avoiding overwatering or planting in overly shaded, humid spots is important for keeping the foliage in peak condition.