If you’re not yet familiar with some of the many lamb’s ear plant uses, this article provides a full profile of some of the ways you can use lamb’s ear. From medicinal to edible and ornamental, the uniquely furry soft lamb’s ear leaves contain treasures for you to enjoy.

More Than an Ornamental Plant

We’ve had lambs ear growing in our garden for years, and snip a leaf as a soothing bandaid for the occasional knuckle nick, scratch or sting. However, it’s only in this year that we’ve begun to make more use of lambs ear medicinal uses.

I suppose it’s like the proverbial phrase about using 10% of our brain capacity, (which isn’t actually a factual saying, but is relatable). Or how the capacity of our computers or smartphones far exceeds most of our knowledge of how to use all of it.

Well, it can be much the same with the plants all around us: they hold greater capacity than most of us know. For instance, we’ve only just begun harvesting our fig leaves for tea, which tastes great and is another tea with benefits, and the same for avocado leaves and so many other edible leaves.

So while ours create lovely silvery medicinal and edible ground cover in our partial shade hugelkultur area, it was time to put them to greater use. So we’ve hunkered down to study and put that to use through application.

Perennial Lamb’s Ear Plant

Lambs ear is a hardy perennial that grows eagerly up through — and sometimes beyond — the first frost. Then in spring, lambs ear is one of the first garden plants to shake off the cold, yawn and stretch and slowly expand its furry leaves, ready for another season to grow.

Lamb’s Ear Names

Lamb’s ear belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae.

Lambs Ear Scientific Name

A lamiaceae family member originating in the countries of Turkey, Armenia and Iran, this mint has several similar variants that have different sized leaves, height and character of flowers.

• Stachys byzantina – from Turkey, Armenia, Iran; scant flowering; zones 4-8^[1]https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=p980
  FORMERLY:
  • Stachys lanata
  • Stachys olympica^[2]https://dorsetperennials.co.uk/product/stachys-lanata/

Lamb’s Ear Common Names

Most of these are regional descriptors based on how soft and pleasant the leaves are to touch, with the most universally popular common name being ‘lamb’s ear.

• bear’s ear
• bunnies’ ears
• Byzantine ear
• cat’s ear
• Jesus flannel
• lamb’s tongue
• lamb’s wool
• lamb’s ear
• lamb’s tongue
• mouse ear
• rabbit ear
• Wooly lamb’s ear
• Wooly betony (betony is another plant with purple flowers that’s also in the mint family
• Wooly woundwort

Lamb’s Ear Medicinal Uses – Traditional Uses Scientifically Validated

Most people are familiar with lamb’s ear medicinal uses as bandages, but may not be as familiar with some of the other medicinal benefits of lamb’s ear.

Research indicates that the natural compounds found in Stachys byzantina extracts corroborate the anecdotal uses of this plant. Lamb’s ear traditional uses include health problems such as Alzheimer’s disease, skin disorders, diabetes mellitus, plus it has antioxidant properties that contributes to the mitigation of free radical damage.^[3]https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031942296007510?via%3Dihub

Ways to Use Lamb’s Ear

• OIL – made from lamb’s ear macerated in oil, such as olive oil. External uses of this oil massaged on skin include:^[4]https://lavalheureuse.com/boutique-web/en/organic-herbal-wooly-lamb-s-ear-stachys-byzantina-p239/
  • anti-inflammatory
  • antibacterial
  • antiseptic
  • astringent
  • vulnerary
  • ear pain
• OINTMENT with beeswax – can relieve hemorrhoids and other similar benefits as the lamb’s ear oil
• TEA
• TINCTURES

Health Benefits of Lamb’s Ear Plant

• analgesic (for pain)^[5]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5964621/
• antibacterial^[6]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2792521/
• antimicrobial – especially against Gram-positive microorganisms; less so with Gram-negative ones^[7]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8709469/
• anti-candida (as an essential oil rather than an ethanol extract)^[8]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2792521/
• anticancer^[9]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7601302/
• antimicrobial^[10]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8709469/
• anti-diabetic^[11]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7601302/
• antioxidant^[12]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8709469/
• anti-inflammatory^[13]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7601302/
• antispasmodic
• ^[14]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7601302/
• antitumor
• ^[15]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7601302/
• anti-tyrosinase – scavenges free radicals^[16]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6194685/
• anti-Alzheimer’s^[17]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7601302/
• bandage for wounds, (see more below)
• asthma
• ^[18]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7601302/
• common cold
• ^[19]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7601302/
• digestive disorders
• ^[20]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7601302/
• dysentery
• ^[21]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7601302/
• diuretic
• ^[22]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7601302/
• epilepsy
• ^[23]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7601302/
• poultice
• rheumatic and inflammatory disorders^[24]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7601302/
• stings by bees, wasps, etc.
• wounds

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:

This content is informational and not prescriptive. When dealing with health issues, be sure to do your own research and consult with the appropriate health professional for guidance.

Lamb’s Ear for Wounds

Lamb’s ear leaves have been used for centuries as bandages… like a Band Aid with Neosporin already applied, the wonderful Stachys byzantina can also be used as a bandage to hold other medicinal herbs, such as comfrey.

The analgesic and other “anti” benefits listed above, plus the large, soft, absorbent leaves make for a wonderful bandage.

How to Use Lamb’s Ear as a Bandage

We like to append the lamb’s ear leaves to the afflicted area using self-adhesive bandage wrap. However, here are some additional ideas for securing the Stachys byzantina leaves to the wound or sting.

Ways to Attach Lamb’s Ear Leaves:

First, use whatever you have on hand. For prepping your first aid basket in advance, the self-adhesive bandage is quickest and easiest to have on hand. Whatever you use, be sure it’s tight enough to secure the lamb’s ear dressing without it being too tight.

• self-adhesive bandage wrap
• stretchy drawstring cord to tie around the leaves
• string or thin rope (wrapped securely but no too tight)
• tall grass blades
• thin vines from long-stemmed or vining plants like honeysuckle, passion fruit, bean or pea plants
• thin and stretchy rubber bands

Lamb’s Ear Leaves for Bleeding, and to Cover Wounds

Attach the soft side of one more whole lamb’s ear leaves to the area. Apply with steady pressure, or wrap and secure the leaves in place. Apply fresh leaves as needed

Lamb’s Ear for Stings, Scrapes and Scratches

Roll and unroll, or wad and unwad to lightly crush the lamb’s ear leaf to help release the juices within it. Apply and hold or attach to afflicted area.

DISCLAIMER: Lamb’s quarters is generally safe and non-allergenic. However, remove and discontinue if your condition worsens in any way, and seek appropriate medical attention.

If you live in a neighborhood that restricts food gardening, lamb’s ear plants are beautiful landscape plants with edible and medicinal benefits that pass HOA gardening rules. They’re a great foodscaping plant for edible landscapes.

Is Lamb’s Ear Plant Poisonous?

Lamb’s ear plant is not poisonous to humans, nor is it on the list of poisonous plants for dogs.^[25]https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/dogs-plant-list

The lamb’s ear plant has been known to cause nausea and digestive issue for pets, but most don’t tend to try to eat it. So while you wouldn’t feed it to your pets, lamb’s ear is not poisonous to dogs or cats.

For more on plants poisonous to dogs here.

Ornamental Uses for Lamb’s Ear

Outdoors

• Border for –
  • flower beds
  • sidewalks
• Ground cover

For more plants with purple flowers here, and even beneficial weeds with purple flowers here!

Decorations

• Christmas ornaments
• Garlands
• Holiday ornaments
• Wreaths

Lamb’s Ear Leaf Garland

Lamb’s Ear Leaves Christmas Ornaments

Other Uses for Lamb’s Ear

• Toilet paper! Absorbent and soft!
• Childen’s garden plant – fun to grow and they love to touch it.

Lamb’s ear is well known as useful for toilet paper during camping or… err…. shortages. In fact it’s also known up as boy scout toilet paper, or cowboy toilet paper…and even Covid toilet paper!

Lambs Ear Edible Uses

Most people would not choose to eat lamb’s ear leaves because of the fuzzy texture which, while pleasant to touch, isn’t generally found pleasant in food.

We have found no indications that it is not edible, and some indications of edible uses cooked and in salads. However the most common way to consume lamb’s ear is through tea, tinctures or external applications.^[26]https://www.acgpubs.org/RNP/2014/Volume8/Issue%201/13-RNP-1312-489.pdf^[27]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7601302/

• Lamb’s ear tea
• Fresh leaves in salad, youngest leaves, (we’ve slice into ribbons or shredded for a light sprinkling)
• Cooked leaves as you might use other cooked greens, according to some sources.
• Fried in batter like fish, aka “vegan fish”.^[28]https://thegardenofbob.com/blog/lambs-ear-the-vegan-fish/

We consider lamb’s ear most, as a medicinal remedy used in tea and external applications. However, beyond that, it’s great to know of edible options beyond the normal, especially in hard times.

If you enjoyed learning about these many lamb’s ear gifts, you may also enjoy this article on the proven medicinal uses of mugwort.

Lamb’s Ear Tea Recipe

The basic recipe for any herbal tea is simple:

• 1 Tbsp. dried lamb’s ear, (more or less for a stronger or weaker brew)
• 8-16 oz boiling water, poured over the herb in an infuser ball, spoon or cup.
• Steep 5-10 minute
• Sweetener (optional)

When we sweeten medicinal teas we use dried stevia from our garden, and usually a few leaves or 1/4 teaspoon is enough for one cup as stevia is very strong. For 2 quarts of tea, I’ve found that 1 tablespoon of stevia leaves is perfect.

Find all kinds of surprising edible leaves here.