THE FOLKLORE OF PLANTS: Lamb’s Ear

Lisa Karen Miller

          This plant’s furry, silvery-green leaves do indeed resemble a lamb’s ears. In late spring, it sends up a stalk of lavender flowers, but it’s the leaves that just beg to be touched.  It’s another great plant to introduce children to gardening. Other names are Wooly Betony, Wooly Hedgenettle, Heal-All, Self-Heal, and Woundwort. English children called it Bunny Rabbit’s Ears.

          Native to Turkey, Armenia, and Iran, Stachys byzantina has long been regarded as having the power to repel evil and witches.  This may be why the “teddy bear of the garden” became such a popular cottage garden plant.

          Rich people had big houses with flower gardens designed by professionals.  Everything was neat, orderly, and kept well within bounds by a team of gardeners. These gardens were for show.

          People like us lived in cottages, and grew plants for food and medicine, mainly.  If some flowered as well, that was a bonus.  When a neighbor divided a plant and gifted us with some, we stuck it in any place there was room.  It was crowded, random, higgledy-piggledy, and natural.  These gardens were for use.

          This is still our idea of a cottage garden today.

          A member of the mint family, Lamb’s Ear has a tendency to wander if not kept in check.  It is drought tolerant, self-seeding, and highly resilient. The leaves have a faint scent of pineapple, and so can be used in potpourri. Dried leaves can also be used to make a sweet, apple-flavored tea. Fresh, they can be added to salads. Steam or stir-fry young fresh leaves with other vegetables to add distinctive flavor.

          In the past, it had the reputation of being toxic, but is in fact medicinal. It was used to staunch wounds and can be used as a natural bandage. The super-absorbent leaves have antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties, and can be used fresh on stings, welts, or swellings.

          Lamb’s Ear was a powerful herb to the Druids. They believed it could expel evil spirits, nightmares, and despair. During Midsummer festivals, it is added to the bonfire; people then jump through the smoke to purify the body of ills and evil.

          If troubled by nightmares, fill a small cloth pillow with Lamb’s Ear and place it under your head. It is also added to purification and protection mixtures and incenses.

          This is a perfect plant to dry and use in a wreath. The silvery leaves make an excellent Christmas or door decoration, and look especially nice against a dark colored door.

© Copyright 2023 Lisa Karen Miller