Lamb's ears or wooly betony (Stachys byzantia) is a favorite of gardeners everywhere. The plant's thick, silvery, soft, wooly leaves combined with a low, spreading habit makes it perfectly suited as a foliage planting for borders and rock gardens — but right now, its purple flower spikes stand like sentinels in the midsummer garden!

Stachys species typically spread by runners, forming a rapidly spreading mat approximately 4 to 6 inches off the ground. Good drainage in summer and winter is essential for the health and longevity of S. byzantina and other woolly-leaved species. The Stachys genus has several medicinally active species, and it is also known by the common name of "woundwort." Early documented use notes the antiseptic qualities of the leaves and their use to bandage wounds. Stachys byzantina extract has shown antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and other bacteria.