Stachys byzantina 'Sheila McQueen'
lamb's ear 'Cotton Boll'
A low-growing, evergreen perennial, with white woolly stems and basal rosettes of thick, soft, downy leaves to 11cm long. Produces upright, flowering stems to 50cm in height in summer, with dense clusters of small round modified flowers with the same white downy coating
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green White | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green White | Green White | ||
| Autumn | Green White | |||
| Winter | Green White |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed Hardiness
H7Botanical details
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Matforming
- Genus
Stachys can be annuals, perennials or shrubs, with paired leaves which are sometimes unpleasantly aromatic, and erect spikes or racemes of whorled, 2-lipped flowers
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun
Propagation
Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame in autumn or spring. Propagate by division of established clumps, or by removing rooted offsets in spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Gravel garden
- Flower borders and beds
- Garden edging
- Ground cover
- Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Pruning
Remove flowers to enhance the dense growth of the plant
Pests
May be susceptible to slugs
Diseases
May be susceptible to powdery mildews and to stem and leaf rot in damp conditions
Get involved
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