Lamb's ear
An ornamental from Anatolia and the Caucasus known for its silvery woolly leaves; its purple early-summer flowers are busily visited by honey bees and wild bees.
- Nectar
- Good
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 0,3-0,6 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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A species from the dry, stony slopes of Anatolia, the Caucasus and Iran, now grown as an ornamental in gardens all over the world. Its long flower spikes stay open for weeks and are visited regularly by honey bees. Its nectar value is good and its pollen contribution moderate.
Flowering
Small pink-purple flowers open on white, felted spikes from June to August. It tolerates drought and heat and needs little watering; in excessive moisture its leaves may rot.
Honey and pollen
Plantings are small, so it has no separate value for honey production. The wool carder bee Anthidium manicatum, which uses the leaf hairs to build its nest, often visits this plant; the males of this bee may chase honey bees away while defending their territory.
Note for the beekeeper
It can be used as ground cover in dry gardens, rock gardens and borders around the apiary. Some ornamental cultivars that do not flower are worthless for bees; choose flowering forms.