Garden Photo of the Day

Yellow lambs' ears done right

Michelle Gervais, Associate Editor

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Michelle Gervais

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Michelle Gervais

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Photo: Michelle Gervais

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The thought of a yellow lambs' ears (Stachys byzantina 'Primrose Heron', USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8) could make you cringe if you haven't seen one before. But this combo designed by Freeland and Sabrina Tanner in California is proof that a yellow version of this classic silver perennial really can work! Here it's combined with a deep red 'Rose Glow' barberry (Berberis thunbergii 'Rose Glow', Zones 5-8), 'Butterfly Blue' pincushion flower (Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue', Zones 3-8), pink-flowering hardy geranium (Geranium X cantabrigiense, Zones 5-8), and the yellow-striped foliage of 'Yellow Wave' phormium (Phormium 'Yellow Wave', Zones 8-11)

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Luscious leaves

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Topped off with plants

Comments (6)

Arian writes: I live in York County, VA, zone 7b/8a and can't keep Stachys alive to save me. The voles eat it, or it melts in the summer heat, or both. It will be okay for a couple of years, and then dies miserably. I want to try planting it in several places to see if that makes a difference. Barberry is an invasive here [wah!], and it's a bit too cold in winter for Phormium, but a smallish Loropetalum and variegated Yucca would probably approximate this grouping. Posted: 9:34 pm on August 21st

bamboomary writes: I didn't know you could do that Stachys wrong lol but this is a stunning combination. Like Deanneart I too wish I had the climate to accommodate a Phormium like that! If the phormium was not in that garden it would still be nice but it really does "complete" the total look. The Phormium color is perfect with that Stachys. Posted: 12:17 pm on August 19th

petuniababi writes: What a spectacular grouping.I have a spot where this would look terriffic.This is absolutely gorgeous!!! Posted: 11:52 am on August 19th

Frdgrntmatow writes: Don't give up hope! I have a clump this year that returned on its own and has thrived here in zone 4. I'd love to find this yellow one and try it. I think stachys is just a bashful variety of plant that waits for a slightly milder winter or a nice forgiving spring and then jumps up! Wish I could grow those roses!
Posted: 10:20 am on August 19th

Deanneart writes: Fabulous combination! How I wish I could grow Phormium to look like that! gorgeous Posted: 6:42 am on August 19th

arboretum writes: killer grouping. wish we could grow that stachys here in z. 5 but alas, have lost it too many times now.
best,
mindy
www.cottonarboretum.com/ Posted: 1:29 am on August 19th

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