Rose campion vs Lamb’s Ear is not an easy comparison to make. We agree that although these two plants look quite similar, there are marked differences between the two.
However, it’s not easy to say which one is our favorite. Learn more about both of them below and decide which one you like best.
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Quick Overview
Curious about finding out the key differences between the Rose Campion and Lamb’s Ear plant? Take a look at this quick overview table to find out.
| Rose Campion | Lambs Ear | |
| Type of plant | Rose Campion is a perennial flower plant that belongs to the Caryophyllacaea family. | Lamb’s Ear is a perennial herbaceous evergreen plant. It belongs to the family lamiaceae. |
| Native Region | Rose Campion is native to the Southeastern European lands. | This ornamental plant is native to Iran, Armenia and Turkey. |
| Scientific Name | Lychnis coronaria | Stachys byzantina |
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What Is The Difference Between Rose Campion And Lambs Ear?
The main difference between these two plants is that the leaves of the Rose Campion are green, oval-shaped and measure approximately 5 inches in length, while the Lamb’s Ear leaves are elongated and covered with very fine, silver, fur-like hair.
Rose Campion might be a plant that looks like Lamb’s Ear, but it is a very different and unique species in itself.
Rose Campion vs Lamb’s Ear Plant: Cultural Needs
Even though Rose Campion plants are plants similar to Lambs Ear, there are some key differences in both of their cultural requirements. As a beginner gardener, it really helps to know the individual needs of each plant in order to grow it successfully. Find out what these needs are in the following section.
– Light
Both these plant species love bright light! Grow them under plenty of sun for a healthy plant.
– Rose Campion
The Rose Campion plant needs plenty of bright sunlight, especially in the early mornings and late evenings. When grown outdoors, keep them under full bright sun but take some precaution against the afternoon sunlight.
Sunlight during this time of day contains a large concentration of UV rays that can cause sunburn to the leaves. It would help to provide some shade to your plant during these hours.
When kept indoors, we suggest you place this plant in an eastern or a western side view window. The southern side window, which receives harsh afternoon sunlight, should be avoided.
– Lamb’s Ear
The Lamb’s Ear plant loves direct bright sunlight. It can even tolerate the afternoon sun during hot summer months. Your plant can also tolerate partial shade should you choose to grow it indoors.
However, keep in mind that too much shade will lead to moisture retention in its leaves. This often produces rot and fungal disease. Place it somewhere it can receive at least some sunlight.
– Temperature
The temperature needs of Rose Campion and Lamb’s Ear are more or less similar.
– Rose Campion
Rose campion is a plant of temperate climates, although it prefers colder temperatures more. In order to ensure a richer bloom, try exposing them to very cold air right before the bloom period.
A temperature drop from day to night also stimulates flowering.
– Lamb’s Ear
This is quite a hardy plant and can survive in all sorts of moderate temperature conditions. We do recommend providing a shade for it during very hot summer days.
– Watering
You will not need to water these plants very often. Continue reading to discover why.
– Rose Campion
Rose campion is a drought-tolerant plant. In fact, it tends to grow better under stressful water conditions. Despite that, you should still water your plant at least once weekly during the active growth period between spring and summer if you keep it indoors.
Water slowly and allow it to reach the very tips of the roots underground. Also, make sure your pot has a proper drainage hole so that excess water doesn’t accumulate in the soil for too long.
If this plant is grown in the garden, even natural rainfall and soil water should be enough for it. Most gardeners only need to water their outdoor plants under very dry conditions.
– Lamb’s Ear
Just like Rose Campion, the Lamb’s Ear plant too is drought-tolerant as it needs only an inch of water per week. You should water this plant only when the soil starts to feel dry. Underwatering is not too detrimental for this plant, but some older leaves might start wilting and dying.
Take care to water only the soil near the base of the stem. Watering the velvety leaves of the Lamb’s Ear plant can cause rot, powdery mildew and other fungal infections to develop in them.
– Humidity
Both Lamb’s Ear and Rose Campion plants have markedly different demands when it comes to the surrounding humidity in the air.
– Rose Campion
This plant is used to growing under very high humidity conditions in its natural habitat. As their water needs are not very high, they need this increased humidity to maintain adequate moisture levels.
When grown indoors, mimic these conditions using a good quality humidifier. You can also try misting these plants but we don’t really recommend this practice.
– Lamb’s Ear
Unlike the Rose Campion plant, the Lamb’s Ear cannot tolerate very humid conditions. Too much moisture in the air will lead to water retention in your plant’s leaves. And this, in turn, will cause it to develop fungal infections.
– Propagation
Propagating these plants is super easy when you do it the right way and at the right time.
– Rose Campion
As a self-seeding plant, Rose Campion seedlings are quite easy to propagate and grow. These seedlings fall from dead flowers and self-sow into the ground. Even without any water or extra care, new plantings will soon emerge from the ground. In fact, it is much easier to remove Rose Campion from your garden than plant it once it has taken root.
You can also sow Rose Campion seedlings yourself. First, collect black seeds from dying flowers and dry them on a paper towel. Plant them soon after collecting in cold, moist soil. In about three weeks, you should see new growth emerging.
– Lamb’s Ear
Do you want to propagate this ornamental plant from seedlings? Harvest the seeds from flowers when they start dying. Start by seeding them indoors at least two months before the winter period is over. Use indoor seed trays with good-quality and moist soil to embed your seeds in.
Even though this is a drought-resistant plant, you will need to keep the soil moist throughout the germination period. Place the trays under bright light, and in about thirty days, the seeds will germinate. You can now transplant them in pots and move them outdoors if you wish.
FAQ
Do Rose Campion come back every year?
Yes, Rose Campion is a perennial plant that typically regrows every year, providing beautiful blooms.
Is Lamb’s Ear the same as sage?
No, Lamb’s Ear and sage are different plants, although they both belong to the same family (Lamiaceae).
Is Lamb’s Ear invasive?
Yes, Lamb’s Ear can be considered invasive in certain regions due to its ability to spread quickly and crowd out other plants.
Conclusion
We have learned the major differences between the Rose Campion and Lamb’s Ear plants. Some key take-away points are provided here:
- Both the Lamb’s Ear and the Rose Campion plant can grow up to about 16 inches in height.
- The Lamb’s Ear plant has a compact, rosette-type growth pattern of the leaves.
- Both species produce flowers of a magenta/pink color, but Rose Campion hybrid plants allow you to mix and match flower colors of your own choice.
- Rose Campion leaves are round, whereas the Lamb’s Ear plant produces elongated leaves. Both types of leaves are covered with fine hair giving it a velvety texture.
- The flower stalks of Rose Campion are very tall, measuring up to several feet. On the other hand, Lamb’s Ear flower stalks are only about 9 inches tall.
- Rose Campion can tolerate direct sunlight of moderate intensity, while Lamb’s Ears can grow under even very intense sunlight.
- One major difference is that Lamb’s Ear plants cannot tolerate high humidity whereas Rose Campion plants need very humid conditions for proper growth.
- You can propagate both of these plants by collecting their trays and germinating them indoors using seedling trays.
With all the information and detailed comparisons listed above, how soon are you going to give these exotic plants a try?
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