Stachys byzantina
Woolly mint
Common names: Donkey ear, Hare ear
Photo: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
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Description
Stachys byzantina, commonly known as woolly mint, is a low-growing garden shrub with densely silvery, hairy leaves that resemble soft animal ears. The foliage feels velvety and forms a dense, gray-white carpet along the garden edge throughout the year. In summer, delicate violet flower spikes rise on stems up to 40 cm tall, attracting bumblebees and honeybees. As a hardy steppe plant, it tolerates heat and drought well, making it ideal for sunny borders and gravel gardens.
Care instructions
Plant in full sun on a warm site with well‑draining, somewhat sandy soil. Avoid waterlogging, especially in winter, as it can cause rotting leaf shoots. Water only during prolonged dry spells after establishment; otherwise the plant copes with natural rainfall. Prune spent flower heads in late summer and remove wilted leaf parts in early spring (around week 14 of the year) to encourage fresh, dense foliage. Divide the clumps every three to four years to maintain vigor and prevent internal hardening.
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, lean, sandy, dry
Feeding
Light feeder
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