Stachys byzantina Big Ears

Stachys byzantina 'Big Ears' was named so because of the size of its leaves, which are significantly larger than those of the species. This cultivar possesses the same ornamental qualities and ease of cultivation: astonishingly velvety grey foliage, similar to the touch of an animal's fur, and cottony floral stems adorned with a few discreet pink flowers, arranged on the spike. Plant it in the sun in a rockery, on an embankment, or at the edge of a bed. it will form beautiful tactile colonies for wandering hands to admire!

Stachys byzantina (synonym: Stachys lanata) belongs to the Lamiaceae family, just like sage, thyme, and rosemary. This perennial plant with trailing rhizomes is native to calcicolous meadows in Eurasia, distributed from Iran to Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. It prefers well-drained but preferably loose and deep soil. It is highly resistant to cold and well-adapted to summer drought.

'Big Ears' only differs in the size of its leaves. Its rapidly growing trailing stump produces basal rosettes of long oval leaves, 15 to 20cm (6 to 8in) long and 4cm (2in) wide, with crenate margins, entirely covered in soft and woolly bristles. The foliage reaches a height of 20 to 25cm (8 to 10in). When it rains, the green lamina reappears under the grey fuzz. The drier the soil, the lighter, even almost white, the foliage appears. Flowering occurs from June to August, depending on the region: the rosettes produce cottony floral spikes. Their square-sectioned stems, 40cm (16in) tall, bear increasingly shorter opposite leaves towards the top. At their tips, a spike of 10 to 22cm (4 to 9in) develops, composed of numerous tiny flowers grouped in clusters. Their purplish pink hue is engulfed in an abundance of almost white wool. This flowering attracts bees. The floral spikes leave a curious, somewhat camphoraceous scent on the hand, reminiscent of sage.

Stachys byzantina 'Big Ears' is perfect in a dry garden, without irrigation, or in a not too arid rockery. Ornamental all year round, it forms superb velvety and carefree carpets that enhance all companion plants, especially pink flowers. It can be planted en masse along a path or used to edge a flower bed composed of perennial or shrubby sage, linear plants, lavender, nepeta, groundcover roses, ornamental allium, lilies, carnations, and many others. It only requires well-drained soil and sunlight. Along the edge of a mineral bed, it can be paired with sedums, Stipa tenuifolia, yarrows, or euphorbias.