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perennial

Lamb's ear 'Helen von Stein'

Stachys byzantina 'Helen von Stein'

Preview: plant data is awaiting horticulturist review. A professional horticulturist hasn't reviewed our plant table yet. Lists still follow fixed rules for zone, sun, pets, deer and invasive status.

Lamb's ear 'Helen von Stein' is a semi-evergreen perennial hardy in zones 4–8. Expect 0.75–1 ft of height and 1.5–2 ft of spread; our lists space it 1.5 ft apart. It does best in full sun to part sun with little water once established. It is grown for its foliage rather than its flowers. In a FloraVista list it usually plays the edge role: a low plant that finishes the front edge. Deer usually leave it alone, and it is not listed as toxic to dogs or cats. Our rules leave it out of lists in Florida and the Gulf, where summer heat, humidity or mild winters hold it back even inside its zone range.

Facts from our plant table

Botanical name
Stachys byzantina 'Helen von Stein'
Plant type
Perennial, semi evergreen
Hardiness zones
4 to 8
Sun
Full sun (6+ hours); Part sun (4–6 hours)
Water
Low
Soil
Well-drained soil; rots in wet, humid conditions.
Mature size
0.75–1 ft tall × 1.5–2 ft wide
Spacing
1.5 ft apart (centre to centre)
Growth rate
Medium
Bloom
Grown for foliage
Roles in a bed
Edge
Styles
cottage, low water, classic
Deer resistance
High: deer rarely eat it
Pets
Not listed as toxic to dogs or cats. Reported as non-toxic on the ASPCA list by secondary sources; the ASPCA page itself was not seen.
Native to
Not native to the US (or a garden hybrid)
Pot size and price
1-gallon pot, typically $10–$16 (easy to find)
Plant in
Spring or Fall
First-year watering
Water deeply once or twice a week for the first 6-8 weeks, then every 10-14 days in dry spells through the first summer; after that only in long droughts.
Pruning
Pull out mushy or dead leaves after wet weather; rarely flowers.

Sources: Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder; state extension service fact sheets; ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list; Rutgers NJAES deer resistance ratings; state extension service; Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States; state noxious weed and invasive plant lists; US garden-centre and home-improvement retail listings (general knowledge, 2026 estimate). Not yet reviewed by a horticulturist.

Guides that include this plant

Good companions

The plants our list engine most often puts in the same bed as Lamb's ear 'Helen von Stein', across the sun, zone, pet, deer and style combinations it fits.

If you can't find it

Substitutes our engine offers for Lamb's ear 'Helen von Stein': same role in the bed, passing the same rules. Some of them are flagged toxic to dogs or cats: check the pet note before you swap.

How this page was made

This page was generated from this plant's record in FloraVista's plant table by fixed rules. The companions and substitutes come from the lists our rules engine composes. No named expert has reviewed this page.

Data status: the plant table is awaiting review by a horticulturist. Check each plant with a local nursery or extension office before you buy.

Sources

  • Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, state extension services and the USDA PLANTS database (zones, size, sun, water, bloom, native range)
  • ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists (dog and cat toxicity)
  • Rutgers NJAES and regional extension deer-resistance ratings
  • State noxious-weed and invasive-plant lists and the Invasive Plant Atlas of the US
  • Typical US garden-centre listings (pot size and price band)

Generated . How FloraVista chooses plants