Lamb’s-ear plants are perennial herbs densely covered with grey or silver-white hairs which will attract Wool Carder Bees (Anthidium mancatum).
Unusually, females of this distinctive species line their nests with plant hairs that they collect from the leaves of of Lamb’s-Ear. Male Wool Carder Bees are aware of this and patrol the plants, fighting off rival males, and mating with any feeding females.
Lamb’s-ear flowers in late spring and early summer; plants produce tall spike-like stems. The flowers are small and light purple. The plants tend to be evergreen but can “die” back during cold winters and regenerate new growth from the crowns.
