Stachys germanica aka Downy Woundwort

Stachys germanica is a woolly wildflower in the mint family. This family has the name Lamiaceae. The plant's names include downy woundwort and common woundwort. Another name is lamb’s ear. Its native range spans the Canary Islands, Europe, and the Caucasus. It grows in temperate regions and is native to Britain. Records call it very rare there, with sites in Oxfordshire. Wild plants grow in pastures and along hedge banks. They often grow on soils formed over limestone.

The RHS calls this plant a biennial, with a two-year life. Kew lists it as a perennial, which lives for more years. The accounts thus differ on lifespan. Garden plants reach about 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre] tall. Their spread ranges from 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres]. Leaves form rosettes, or clusters, at ground level below upright stems. They have a lance shape, toothed edges, and fine white hairs. This dense coat gives the plant its woolly look. It is semi-evergreen: some leaves may last through winter. Small pink-purple flowers grow in whorls, or rings, around the stems. The RHS says it blooms in summer in its second year.

Choose an open, sheltered site with room around each plant. It grows in full sun or partial shade. Soil should drain well and be neutral to slightly alkaline. Chalk, loam, and sand are suitable soil types. The plant prefers warm, dry summers. It struggles in crowded beds. The RHS gives it a UK hardiness rating of H4. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 4–8. These sources use different scales to guide where plants can grow. Plants reach full size within one to two years. Seed needs light to sprout, and plants need no pruning.

Its pale leaves and upright flowers suit informal garden beds. The RHS also suggests gravel gardens and wildflower meadows. It lists wildlife gardens too. Banks and slopes offer other places to plant it. Give it space, away from plants that compete strongly. Slugs, snails, and tortrix moth larvae may attack it. Mice, voles, and rabbits may also cause damage. The RHS reports few disease problems.

Plants For A Future lists no known edible uses. It reports no known hazards, but this does not prove complete safety. People have used the soft, hairy leaves as wound dressings. That source records antiseptic properties, which help fight germs. It also gives the plant a modest medicinal-use rating. This describes a past use, not advice to use it as treatment.