In a world where I could only have 10 plants in my garden—clutch your pearls, right?—lambs' ears (Stachys byzantina and cvs., Zones 4-8) would most assuredly be one of them. I have been a fan of the cultivar 'Big Ears' for what seems like forever, and I have grown it in my own garden for almost as long. I like the playfulness of the fuzzy leaves— so much like a lamb's cuddly ears. Their silvery complexion complements colorful perennials, and the bold foliage is sublime with fine-textured grasses.At some point, lambs' ears went from a novelty to a garden standard in my eyes, but my appreciation of its soft wooliness has never wavered. The rambling habit makes lambs' ears a good ground cover, but I think this plant is best—as a lone plant or massed— spilling onto a walk or terrace, where the velvety leaves blur the hard edges.
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