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I give up on lambs ear
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Posted by
bellarosa z4-5/IL (
My Page) on
Sun, May 15, 11 at 1:56
| ok, here's the story, I planted lambs ear as an edger for my perennial bed. I had read that it was invasive, but I didn't realize how much! It's basically grown into the lawn - not a good thing. I'm planning on digging it up and would like to replace it with a perennial that can take full sun and that of course, is not invasive. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
-Bellarosa |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: I give up on lambs ear
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| What about Stachys 'Helen von Stein' lamb's ears? There's a post somewhere on GW about it and comments were it's about the only variety that's not invasive and it supposedly doesn't look ratty halfway through the season like the species. I picked up a gallon pot of it yesterday to give it a try. For an alternative, there's meadow sage that has a similar silver-colored leaf but it gets a little bigger. My spike veronica stays small and polite and looks like it would be a good edge-of-the-border plant. The color of lady's mantle might not work for you but that's another one that is pretty well-behaved. Agastache rupestris is hardy to Z5 but might not be a hardy perennial where you are. Bluestone Perennials' website has helpful lists of plants for specific conditions that might give you a few more ideas. |
RE: I give up on lambs ear
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| Gardenweed, Thank you for your suggestions. I'll have to check out the Bluestone Perennials website. Thanks again. -Bellarosa |
RE: I give up on lambs ear
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Both of my large beds are edged with Helen Von Stein. It lookes great all season. After if frosts in the fall it looks disgusting, but then so does every other dead perennial. It will creep a little bit each year, but it's easy to tear out and I would not call it invasive at all.
here is a picture. the front the whole way is Helen.
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RE: I give up on lambs ear
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| Love the photo! Does Helen really not bloom? I cut all my Lamb's ear back yesterday. It doesn't look too awful right now, but it does spread like crazy. |
RE: I give up on lambs ear
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| Beautiful!! Thanks for the eye candy...makes me glad I picked up a pot of Helen at the nursery. Is it growing in full sun in the photo? |
RE: I give up on lambs ear
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| once in a while one of them will get a flower. seems to be more of a fluke than a regular occurance. I just cut it off. But pretty much maintnance free. I would say they are in full sun, some in part sun |
RE: I give up on lambs ear
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| Great pic. Thanks for sharing. Would definitely consider Helen! |
RE: I give up on lambs ear
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| Such a pretty picture. I have been wavering on getting lambs ear but also don't like it when it starts looking ratty. I'll have to look for the Helen variety. thanks |
RE: I give up on lambs ear
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| I love the photo and your garden, thanks for sharing. |
RE: I give up on lambs ear
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| Or you could try salvia argentea. Fantastic silver, fuzzy leaves--even more luxuriant than traditional lamb's ears. The only catch is that it may not be as long-lived in the garden. I've had mine for years, though, and they also put up a big spike of whitish flowers. I also like cerastium tomentosum. It's been pretty well-behaved for me, though I don't think that's always the case. I also like arabis--slightly silvery foliage, and one of the earliest bloomers in my garden. And, of course, there are also lots of nice little dianthus that are low and silvery as well. |
RE: I give up on lambs ear
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| Your garden looks beautiful can you post some pics when things start to bloom... gorgeous.. june |
RE: I give up on lambs ear
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| I gave up on Lambsear several years ago,I could clean out a patch thro some in ditch and they would take hold. Quite a pain |
RE: I give up on lambs ear
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| I have to agree on Helen von Stein being very well behaved. I've had it for 8 years or so. It's increased, but slowly and has bloomed exatly once in all that tme. It's also called 'Big Ears'. Here's a picture back from 2005:
 And here's a picture from last year:
 It hasn't really gotten much wider, although it now is against the irises. I happen to like a full look, so that works for me. |
RE: I give up on lambs ear
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| I have regular lambs ear and I just cut it back two or three times during the season to keep it neat and tidy. It recovers in about a week. And I pull out the edges at the same time if needed. Not a big deal. salvia argentea is really cool plant, but for me it grows super slowly. |
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