Lamb’s Ear

Stachys byzantina (Stachys lanata is the archaic form)

AKA: Wolly woundwort, wolly hedgenettle, wooly betony

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Historically Used to Treat: Wounds (as a naturally-antibacterial dressing), stings, hemorrhoids, colds, sore throats, mouth sores, asthma, eye problems, it shows potential for modern antibiotic-resistant staph infections.

Other Uses: Toilet “paper”, young leaves are edible in salads or steamed as a green, prepared as peixinho-da-horta in Brazil (a deep fried dish said to taste like fish - the name means “fish from the garden”)

John Bartram listed lamb’s ears for sale in his catalogue from 1771 to 1809. It was a new plant to English-speakers in the 18th century, recently imported from Turkey.