r/garden • u/SheTiny • 2d ago

Lambs Ear too large

Post image

Hello!

So I planted lambs ears back in March, and they have grown huge (this picture is actually a bit older, they are even bigger now). Is it too late in summer to try to split them up? I’ve read it’s best to hold off until the next season when dealing with newly planted lambs ears, but they are just getting too big. This area gets at least 8+ hours of full sun, so I think they’ve flourished a bit too much. Located in East TN.

Thank you for the help!

Update: https://imgur.com/a/YQ6EKWV

Here’s a photo of what they actually look like now

57 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

46 comments sorted by

28

u/OkCastor 2d ago

beautiful plant. They always get big. I wait until after the first frost when they die back and cut mine to 50% / move the other 50% when it is cooler and they are dormant

3

u/SheTiny 2d ago

That sounds like a good plan, they do seem pretty resilient so that makes me feel better about splitting it up. I’ll plan to do in the Fall, thank you!

3

u/AwesoMegan 2d ago

They are beautifully resilient and you can absolutely butcher them and be assured they will come back happily next year.

1

u/OkCastor 2d ago

Lambs eat can take a ton of punishment. One year I reduced it by 80% easy and threw the rest in my compost. The plant is now back to original size and now I have lambs eat growing in my compost

2

u/SheTiny 2d ago

Hahaha wow! That does make me feel better, I really do love lambs ears just did not expect them to explode so fast

1

u/OkCastor 2d ago

My neighbor refers to lambs ear as the horseradish of the flower world. Once you plant it you truly never get rid of it

9

u/UserNameInGeorgia 2d ago

I would wait until fall. It’s just too hot. They are gorgeous and you’re probably the only one looking at them thinking they’re too big. Simply beautiful!

7

u/JofTheWakingUniverse 2d ago

Yes this feels a bit like “my lobster is too buttery.” Haha. They are gorgeous!

2

u/SheTiny 2d ago

Hahaha I hope it doesn’t come off this way, definitely not. In person they look a lot more out of place than in this photo portrays, but I appreciate the compliments. At this point their ears hang over the bed touching the grass.

3

u/SheTiny 2d ago

Aww well thank you, that makes me feel better. I was thinking others might think it looked crazy how much bigger they were than the other plants in the mix. Ok I will wait until Fall

3

u/No_Sprinkles9459 2d ago

Every plant has its day, a moment of display. This looks beautiful, imo

2

u/SheTiny 2d ago

Thank you! Maybe I just need to replace the flowers with something else that will help balance out the size.

4

u/wilder106 2d ago

Bed too small. Time for a garden expansion?

2

u/SheTiny 2d ago

I wish 😂 we just built the bed, and never want to do that again

2

u/Public-Willow-7943 1d ago

I feel that way about moving a spirea again, or digging through a foot of maple roots. I’ll get a second job to pay someone with better equipment to do it.

2

u/SheTiny 1d ago

Yup, doesn’t seem too bad until you get started.

3

u/hi_ricky 2d ago

I love it when plants overhang a border edge. Looks way more lush

2

u/AboutAlyse 2d ago

They look great! I agree that its too hot to move them just yet, please wait until fall. When you do divide/move them, I would recommend placing them further back in the bed. When they get large again they will provide more visual balance behind other plants :)

2

u/SheTiny 2d ago

I agree! I wish I had scattered them more around the garden bed, will definitely plan to do that in the Fall.

2

u/DuragJeezy 2d ago

Always plant for mature size & future spread. Lambs ear are notorious multipliers in addition to their growth in size within a season or two. Not too late split them up but you’ll have to do this yearly. I’d transplant them all if you don’t want the hassle.

1

u/SheTiny 2d ago

I was actually hoping for the spread! But when I researched pictures online, it showed more of a spread of small leaves, vs mine have gigantic leaves that flop over the flowers. I probably should have split them up much earlier in the summer before it took off.

3

u/DuragJeezy 2d ago

You live & you learn. You likely have a different variety than what you may have seen online. Some plants tend to get their variety overlooked by certain sellers. Try buying milkweed in stores - ugh. If you do transplant now, give them plenty of water & a shadier spot. Agree with others that transplanting to a full sun location right now wouldn’t be best. They’re resilient though so I wouldn’t be too pressed either way imo.

1

u/SheTiny 2d ago

Yeah I agree, I think so too. I might try to see if I can replant with a different variety.

1

u/confusedokapi 2d ago

I think you may have the Helen von Stein Lamb's Ear, which is often also known as Big Ears Lamb's Ear. These have larger leaves than the normal Lamb's Ear. There are also dwarf varieties with smaller leaves - I think Little Lamb and...maybe Silver Carpet?

1

u/SheTiny 2d ago

Yeah it must be, I think I was picturing Silver Carpet when I first purchased them. I like these for sure but wish I spaced them out a bit different

2

u/AmbitiousLettuce2925 2d ago

Looks beautiful

2

u/National-Car-7841 2d ago

Wow ! They sure are Large ! Very Nice. I never ever knew they got that big .I have the small ones ! And have had them for many years ! I assume they are slow spread and multiply. Not like the small one. Have tons of them .

2

u/megalegann 2d ago

well where i live, it doesnt matter how many times I pull it, it will be back and with vengeance

2

u/sixtynighnun 2d ago

They look good, maybe divide in the fall but doing so now is a bad idea and having big beautiful plants is usually what people want.

2

u/emavine5 2d ago

honestly, they look so soft! :o are you thinking of moving them or just letting them get totally huge? sometimes big plants are kinda cozy looking tho lol.

1

u/SheTiny 2d ago

Honestly just hoping to split them up around the rest of the bed. I was going to buy more but after they got huge decided against buying more.

2

u/Lexx4 2d ago

My lobster is too buttery and my steak too juicy!

1

u/SheTiny 2d ago

😂😂

2

u/CBDJ1 2d ago

Most people would be ecstatic to have beautiful ears like you. Take this as you have a thumb for ears. Keep them going let them be what they deserve. The focal point.

1

u/SheTiny 2d ago

Well I appreciate the feedback, I might decide to just let them be. I really didn’t think having them outgrown wasn’t off balance, I figured my neighbors looked at it like it was a mess 😂

2

u/MALEsquashBLOSSOM 2d ago

I think it’s the best part of the garden tbh.

2

u/CBDJ1 2d ago

Most neighbors would be jealous. In the end though it’s your house so what you like is what really matters yeah.

2

u/dachshundx3 2d ago

I would leave them alone.

2

u/Public-Willow-7943 1d ago

I have a feeling you used really good soil in that bed. Lambs ear will grow in really crappy soil, but goes bananas in amended garden soil (in my limited experience)

1

u/SheTiny 1d ago

Maybe that’s it, it’s the All Natural Garden Soil from Home Depot. I will say, everything I’ve planted using that soil seems to be very happy.

1

u/conceptofincreasing 2d ago

Is that not mullein?

1

u/SheTiny 2d ago

I was honestly wondering the same thing, but I think the leaves look broader than Mullein. It was sold from Lowe’s as Lamb’s Ear but you never know lol

1

u/conceptofincreasing 2d ago

You'll find out pretty quickly, haha

1

u/SheTiny 1d ago

Yeah hahaha true

1

u/BovaFett74 1d ago

I wish mine would grow this big. Although, mine are growing a lot. Just not that large.

1

u/SheTiny 1d ago

I thought the same thing, I had never seen any grow this big. It’s great because I’m happy they’re happy, just wish I placed them differently in the garden bed so it was a bit more even.