Stachys 'Helene von Stein' Lambs Ear

Stachys 'Helene von Stein' Lambs Ear, also known as 'Countess Helen von Stein' or 'Big Ears', is an herbaceous evergreen (in mild winter climates) perennial grown for its ornamental foliage that has unique texture and color. Considered the best of the species, 'Helene von Stein' has much larger and darker leaves than is typical. In fact, at up to 12 inches long, the huge lanceolate leaves grow twice as big as the species. The plant creates a beautiful rosette of soft, fuzzy, grey-green leaves with a velvety feel, a silvery cast, and a shape like its namesake. Although it is listed as a non-flowering cultivar, it may occasionally send up a few small flower stalks.

A Stachys byzantina, commonly called lamb's ear, 'Helene von Stein' grows vigorously into a low mound and spreads rapidly by creeping stems but is not invasive. It's a natural as ground cover or edging in a cottage garden, and it's a perfect accent, border, or container plant.

Easy to grow and cold hardy, lamb's ear grows best in a sunny to partly sunny location with average, dry to medium moist, well-draining soil but adapts to light shade and most soils, including clay and poor soils. 'Helene von Stein' tolerates heat, moderate humidity, salt, and drought once established. The plant is cold hardy and deer and rabbit resistant.