Over my 20 years teaching I always had lamb's ear in the children's garden. Due to their "love" of the plant, it often would die back and the following spring we'd find a few babies in the yard to transplant back to where they belonged, and usually the parent plant would bounce back, too. I was very surprised to hear that it was considered potentially invasive. I think between the children, our hot summers and the high humidity it has been kept it in check where I have it planted.
I was extremely surprised to learn that it has a wonderful flavor and such amazing uses. I am definitely putting it in a more comfortable environment this spring and propagating as much as possible.
Growing
Lamb's ear likes it dry but not way too hot. Otherwise, it's a very forgiving plant as to soil type and acidity, watering, and sunlight. In good growing conditions, it can become invasive due to root propagation and seed dispersal. When you know how useful, tasty and healthy this plant is, having too much probably won't be an issue.
uses
In an emergency situation, lamb's ear can be used as a highly absorbent toilet paper or feminine hygiene product. It is a tasty edible and the young leaves can be directly used in a salad or the leaves steamed or stir fried with other greens. The dried leaves are a tasty addition to tea blends or even on their own with a little vanilla extract.
It is used as a poultice, wound treatment, wound bandage, and hemorrhoids treatment, its topical medicinal uses are said to be many.
Lamb’s ear has been used as a natural dye for wool. Boiling the leaves in hot water and then adding a mordant, brings out a fabulous, creamy, yellowish beige. Using the bracts (flower spike) instead of the leaves, a light mauve can be attained.
Source: The Chippewa Herald found on New Life on a Homestead
Final Thoughts
So I had never eaten it before. I just went out and grabbed a young leaf to see how it tasted. It's...GOOD. The fleshy leaves have some umph to them and are a bit chewy, not in a bad way. The taste is pleasant but a very "greens" flavor while eating it, but with hints of apple and pineapple. Immediately after eating it I tasted more of a pineapple flavor and after several minutes, the taste mellowed to more of an apple finish. I HIGHLY recommend!!
sPECS
Stachys byzantina
Type: Perennial
Uses: Border, edible, topical treatment
Hardiness Zone: 4-9
Germination: Can be started indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost and transplanted out after frost date
Seed Prep: None, direct sow after threat of frost
Seed Depth: None, must have light to germinate, do not cover
Germination Time: 30 days
Growing Temp: 50 degrees
Height: 1-1 1/2 feet
Spread: 1-1 1/2 feet
Spacing: 1 1/2 foot
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade, prefer shade in hotter climates
Water Requirements: Average, drought tolerant, water at base
Soil Quality: Well drained but not picky, grow better in richer soil
Soil Chemistry: Not picky, prefer 6-6.5pH
Fertilize: Top dress lightly with compost in spring, do not over fertilize if in containers
Growth Rate: Up to 2 years for blooms
Bloomtime: Late spring - early summer
Flowers: Small, light purple on talk stalks, remove to keep leaves healthy
Leaf color: Silver grayish green
Attracts: Hummingbirds, bees, bumblebees drink dew off leaves, butterflies
Critter Resistant: Deer, rabbits
Critter Attractant: Rollie pollie to dying leaves
Harvest: New leaves for eating, leaves of any size for drying for teas, salves and tinctures
Pruning: Remove leaves if wilted & browning
Mulch: Mulch to keep bottom leaves dry and free of rot
Pests: Rollie pollie/sow bug/pill bug will feed on rotting leaves, remove leaves and place diatomaceous earth around plant; nematodes can invade and plant will need to be disposed of as they will kill it
Diseases: Leaf rot and powdery mildew in humid or wet conditions, water at base, works well in terra cotta pots to stay drier
Reseeds: Yes
Propagation: Stem node rooting or root division, seeds
Garden Style: Children's gardens, English cottage, borders, containers, butterfly garden, ground cover, house plant
Companions: Low water needs plants like yarrow, salvia, nepeta
Allergy Potential: Should not be an allergen plant, but some have posted allergic reactions. However, they may be confusing lamb's ear with lamb's quarter which is toxic.
Cullinary Use: Taste is a mix of apple and pineapple, in Brazil known as lambari and edible herb leaves fried and sprinkled with lemon, can add young leaves to salad, steam or stir fry with other greens
Other: Can be grown under black walnut
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/stachys-byzantina/
https://www.thespruce.com/lambs-ears-uses-how-to-care-and-control-2132610
http://raincountryhomestead.blogspot.com/2017/12/wonderful-uses-an
https://ourpermaculturelife.com/edible-medicinal-ornamental-herb-lam
https://www.newlifeonahomestead.com/lambs-ear-medicinal-uses/bs-ear/d-benefits-of-wooly.html
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