Floratopia

“With few exceptions . . . it is the memory of tactile experiences that enable us to appreciate texture.”

—EDWARD T. HALL, THE HIDDEN DIMENSION

Texture, the way plants feel to the touch, is what makes them so memorable. Beautiful colors and scents may enthrall us, but we remember the way the leaves feel more than anything. That is why I suggest you insert some soft lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) alongside your flowers. This low-growing perennial lives up to its name with thick, velvety foliage that adds a striking greenish-gray color to a garden bed. It sports 6- to 12-inch-tall spikes of small, bright, purplish pink flowers that bees and hummingbirds love in early summer. Some gardeners enjoy the flower spikes, but others cut them off as they emerge to promote the alluring foliage. Deer and rabbits do not eat lamb’s ear. It is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 4–8.

Lamb’s ear is native to Turkey, Iraq, and Iran (thus the species name byzantina), and it prefers full sun but may need light shade in warmer areas. These adaptable plants thrive in well-drained soil and do not like wet conditions. They may rot in hot, humid areas. When crushed or cut, the leaves produce a fruity fragrance. This is a fun and easy-to-grow plant for children’s gardens—no one can resist touching the fuzzy leaves.

A variety of lamb’s ear that I suggest planting is ‘Helen von Stein’ (Stachys byzantine ‘Helen von Stein’). It is also called Big Ears. It is a mounding plant, growing 8 inches tall, and rarely flowers. It does not reseed, which is why it is a good substitute for the common lamb’s ear that can spread. Another great variety is the low-growing ‘Silver Carpet’ lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina ‘Silver Carpet’), known for its attractive silvery green leaves. It does not bloom and grows 4 to 6 inches tall with a spread of 18 to 30 inches wide. ‘Silver Carpet’ makes a wonderful gray-leaved ground cover for areas with dry shade and poor soils.