Stachys macrantha
BIG LAMB’S EARS
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Stachys macrantha
BIG LAMB’S EARS
Stachys macrantha has deep rose-purple trumpets packed into showy heads.
With the blooms held jauntily above a thick clump of pretty, wrinkled, scalloped green foliage.
SALE: Buy 1 get 2 Packets
Showy deep rose-purple trumpets in jaunty heads
These flowers are amongst the biggest in all the Stachys family.
So little wonder it is commonly called “Big Lamb’s Ears”.
Useful groundcover
Stachys macrantha is a thoroughly useful groundcover under roses.
With a traditional reputation as a companion plant for helping to repel harmful insects from roses, veggies and fruit.
Though wherever it makes a very pretty and hardy edging plant all year round.
With showy flowers, a mass of rich colour, zest for life, and pretty scalloped foliage.
Spectacular mass of flower colour
Massed flowers from mid-spring through into summer make it spectacular then.
Plus the dense, neat foliage clumps make pretty edging or groundcover for the rest of the year too.
A handful of flower stems will fill a vase with lovely and long lasting cut flowers.
Tough & easy grower
Plant Big Lamb’s Ears in either Sun or Partial Shade, and it will even grow in dense Shade if necessary.
Though flowering will be more prolific with more sun.
Water-wise, frost, heat & humidity resistant
Stachys macrantha is a tough and easy grower that can cope with some periods of heat and dry, as well as some stints of humidity if necessary.
It is also vigorously frost hardy and resists temperatures down to at least -20C, depending on conditions.
Plus it is unfussy about soil type, as long as the position is well drained.
However it cannot tolerate being water-logged at all.
Deer & rabbit resistant & bee friendly
Fortunately rabbits and deer find Stachys foliage unattractive to eat.
While bees and helpful pollinating insects find the mass of trumpet flowers just the “bees-knees” for nectar. And will buzz amongst them all day doing their job.
60cm. High with massed flower spikes x 45cm. Wide dense, low foliage clump.
SEED SOWING ADVICE: Stachys macrantha
Seed can be simply scattered outdoors in winter / or for optimum germination sow indoors at any time.
INDOORS: First scatter the seed on the surface of good quality potting mix.
Then pat the seeds gently to the surface of the mix to ensure good contact.
These seeds need light for germination, so only very barely cover with sieved mix, or better still, cover with a bare sprinkling of vermiculite.
Then thoroughly moisten the mix by standing the punnet in a shallow water bath.
And allow the moisture to percolate up to the surface from below.
Now cover the punnet with a clear plastic lid to help maintain moisture.
And place the covered punnet in a warm position (not in direct sunlight) for 2-4 weeks.
You can use a heat mat if you have one, and this helps maintain optimum temperatures.
Temperatures of 18-22°C are best for optimum germination.
And continue to keep moist by misting the surface from a spray water bottle.
Seeds will now germinate in approx. 28 days.
However you will get maximum germination if you give them a period of chilling mid way.
You will get even better results if you give them a chill
After 2-3 weeks of moist warmth (as above), wrap the moist punnet in cling-wrap and place in the fridge (not freezer) for a further 2-3 weeks. So the seeds think they have had winter.
Then remove the punnet from the fridge, unwrap, and make sure it is moist.
And return the punnet to a warm, well-lit position for seed germination.
Seedlings begin to emerge in approx. 14 days, though some seeds may emerge later. This is a natural strategy for this plant to hedge bets for the seedlings. So do not discard the punnet.
Remove the clear cover as soon as germination begins and grow the seedings on ready to plant in the garden.
SEED COUNT: 10 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count and give a generous serve).
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