Lady's mantle

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; afternoon shade helps in hot summers.

Water

Moderate; keep the soil evenly moist while establishing. Established plants tolerate brief dry spells, but prolonged drought scorches the leaves.

Soil

Moist but well-drained soil, including clay improved for drainage; tolerates acidic, neutral and alkaline conditions.

Height

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m), including flowers

Spread

1.5-2.5 ft (0.45-0.75 m)

Flowers

Late spring to midsummer; loose sprays of tiny yellow-green flowers.

Foliage

Rounded, pleated, softly hairy green leaves with shallow lobes and scalloped edges; water beads on their surface.

Growth

Moderate to fast; forms a broad clump and may self-seed freely.

Care needed

Low

• Water newly planted clumps whenever the surface soil begins to dry; water established plants during prolonged dry spells.
• Spread a thin layer of compost around clumps in spring; routine fertiliser is usually unnecessary.
• Mulch to conserve moisture, keeping mulch clear of the crown.
• Divide crowded clumps in spring or early autumn, usually every three to four years.
• Remove unwanted seedlings while small, especially beside paving and gravel.

Pruning. Cut flowering stems back to the base before seed ripens to limit self-sowing. After flowering, shear tired foliage back to just above the crown and water during dry weather to encourage fresh leaves; remove dead foliage in late winter.

Late winter

Remove dead leaves before new growth expands.

Early spring

Divide congested clumps and replant the vigorous outer sections.

Spring

Apply a thin compost mulch and weed around emerging foliage.

Late spring

Check new plants for dry soil and water deeply when needed.

Summer

Remove fading flower stems before seed ripens; shear back shabby leaves if fresh growth is wanted.

Early autumn

Plant or divide in mild conditions, allowing time for roots to establish before winter.

• Edge paths and borders with low mounds of foliage that soften hard lines.
• Plant beneath roses to cover bare lower stems and contrast with pink, crimson or white flowers.
• Weave between hardy geraniums, salvias and catmint to link stronger flower colours with yellow-green sprays.
• Use in light shade beside hostas and ferns for contrasting leaf shapes.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, English country, Arts and Crafts, Romantic rose garden, Woodland and Blues and silvers.

Plant it with: Roses, Hardy geraniums, Catmint, Salvias, Hostas and Foxgloves.

Wildlife: The small flowers provide food for visiting insects, including small flies and bees. Dense foliage offers shelter for ground-dwelling invertebrates.

• Excessive self-seeding: cut off flower stems before seeds ripen and pull seedlings promptly.
• Brown, scorched foliage in heat or drought: water deeply, mulch and provide afternoon shade in hot climates.
• Crown rot in waterlogged soil: improve drainage or move the plant to a better-drained position; discard rotten crowns.
• Slugs and snails on young growth: inspect at dusk, hand-pick and remove nearby hiding places.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses; no part is generally recognised as poisonous. This does not establish that eating large quantities is safe.

Where it spreads. Self-seeds freely and can spread beyond planted beds, particularly in cool, moist conditions such as those in the UK and the Pacific Northwest of North America. Remove seed heads and avoid planting beside sensitive natural habitats.

• Common lady's mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris)

  A variable group of closely related plants, generally with smaller, less densely velvety leaves than Alchemilla mollis; exact identification can require specialist examination.

• Alpine lady's mantle (Alchemilla alpina)

  Much smaller, with leaves deeply divided into narrow leaflets edged in conspicuous silvery hairs.

• Dwarf lady's mantle (Alchemilla erythropoda)

  Forms a much shorter mound with smaller blue-green leaves and often reddish leaf stalks.

Alchemilla refers to alchemists' interest in the water droplets on its leaves, mollis means soft, and lady's mantle likens the leaves to the Virgin Mary's cloak.

Propagation. Divide established clumps in spring or early autumn. Seedlings can be lifted and moved while small; plants also grow from seed, though germination can be irregular.

Accepted botanical name

Alchemilla mollis

Native range

Bulgaria, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Transcaucasus and Turkey.

Measured

Average height 100 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.