Garden Plants With Hairy Leaves – A Guide to Fuzzy Foliage

Garden plants with hairy, fuzzy, or downy leaves can add unique texture and visual interest to gardens. The soft hairs, scientifically known as trichomes, come in many shapes and forms from fine velvet-like coatings to woolly tufts. Beyond aesthetics, they serve a variety of functions for plants such as insulation, moisture retention, and deterring pests.

Here are some great plants that have hairy leaves that you can add to your garden.

Lamb’s Ear

With its thick coat of fine silver-white hairs lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) is one of the fuzziest foliage plants. The soft velvety leaves evoke the texture of a lamb’s ear, giving rise to its common name. Lamb’s ear grows as a low, spreading mat with spikes of small purple flowers in summer. It thrives in full sun and tolerates heat and drought once established. Plant lamb’s ear in a dry, sunny place where you can stroke it as you walk by—in a pot or between stepping stones. It will soon spread out by rooting stems.

Mullein

Mullein (Verbascum spp) is fuzzy all over. The foliage the stalks, and even the yellow flowers are fun to stroke. The large soft leaves add form, as well as texture, to the garden. Mullein’s fuzzy, green-gray rosettes of leaves and tall spikes of yellow flowers make it easy to identify. The green surfaces of a mullein leaf are obscured by their many hairs. It’s a biennial plant, so enjoy its soft fuzziness while it lasts.

Jerusalem Sage

Jerusalem sage (Phlomis fruticosa) is a Mediterranean perennial that bears dense whorls of yellow flowers in summer atop woolly stems and leaves. The oblong leaves are coated in fuzzy white hairs on both surfaces. Growing up to 3 feet tall, Jerusalem sage is excellent for the back of sunny borders and cottage gardens.

Cotton Lavender

Cotton lavender (Santolina chamaecyparissus) features slender, finely divided gray-green foliage that resembles Italian cypress trees. The ferny leaves are dotted with glands that make them aromatic when brushed. Tiny yellow button flowers top wiry 18-inch stems in summer. This Mediterranean native thrives in hot, dry conditions.

Spider Flower

Spider flower (Cleome hassleriana) is an annual that bears round palmate leaves with five leaflets, each up to 6 inches across. The leaves are finely hairy and emit a pungent scent. Tall flower stalks carry showy pink, white, or purple spider-like blooms from early summer until frost. Spider flower thrives in full sun and tolerates heat and humidity.

White-Woolly Verbascum

The name “white-woolly verbascum” comes from the fact that its leaves are very woolly. The big, oblong leaves are covered with white hairs that feel like felt. In late spring and early summer, plants grow tall stems with lots of small yellow flowers on top of them. This annual only lasts a short time. It does best in full sun and does well in rough or wet soil.

Mint-Scented Geranium

Mint-scented geranium (Pelargonium tomentosum) has large, soft leaves—pale green on top and whitish underneath—covered with long, silky hairs. It reminds me of an angora sweater. With average soil and water, it grows to about 3 feet high and wide. In spring, it bears clusters of dainty, white blossoms. Grow this frost-tender plant as an annual or houseplant in cooler climates.

Foxglove Beardtongue

Penstemon digitalis, or foxglove beardtongue, has green leaves that are lance-shaped and up to 5 inches long. The leaves are covered in fine white hairs. From late spring to summer, tall spikes with white to pink flowers that look like snapdragons grow. This perennial cottage garden favorite grows best in either full sun or part shade and in average garden soil that drains well.

Viper’s Bugloss

Viper’s bugloss (Echium vulgare) gets its common name from its spotted stems and snake-like shape. The bristly, lance-shaped leaves are covered in irritating hairs that dissuade pests. Dense clusters of bright blue to pink funnel-shaped flowers bloom from late spring into summer. This biennial or short-lived perennial adapts readily to many conditions.

Angel’s Hair Artemisia

Fine, threadlike foliage gives angel’s hair artemisia (Artemisia schmidtiana) its name. The ferny leaves are covered with silvery hairs, giving the foliage a soft, feathery texture. Growing 12 inches tall and 2 feet wide, it bears tiny yellow flower panicles in late summer. Artemisia thrives in full sun and dry conditions including coastal and desert environments.

Pussy Willow

Pussy willow (Salix spp.) is named for its furry catkins that appear in early spring before leaves emerge. The fuzzy gray buds are fun to stroke. These multi-stemmed shrubs thrive in moist soil and full sun. Regular pruning keeps growth in check. Hardy in zones 4-8.

These plants have fuzzy leaves that come in shades of silver, gray, green, and more. They add a unique texture and look to the garden. They also attract pollinators while resisting pests. If you give them lots of sun and good drainage, they’ll do well with little care. Fuzzy leaves can be added to gardens and landscapes to make them more interesting to touch and play with.