Stachys byzantina is a species of Stachys, native to Turkey, Armenia, and Iran. It is cultivated over much of the temperate world as an ornamental plant, and is naturalised in some locations as an escapee from gardens.
Stachys olympica and Stachys lanata are the two other botanical names often used for this plant. However, people know it as the lamb’s ears plant. They are named so because of the curved shape of their leaves, which makes them look like ears. Other common names of the plant include Woolly hedgenettle, Donkey’s ears, Jesus flannel, Bear’s ear, Cat’s ear, Bunnies’ ears, Lamb’s tongue, Rabbit ear, Mouse ear, Lamb’s wool and Woolly woundwort. The plant is mainly grown for its velvety leaves which are densely covered with tiny and fine silver-white, fur-like hair, lamb’s ears plant displays a spreading habit. It typically forms a 6″ – 8″ inch tall compact mound with a spread of about 12″ – 36″ inches. The height of the plant rises up to 12″ – 18″ inches during the flowering season, when the plant produces racemes of magenta-pink flowers.