Alchemilla mollis, the beautiful lady’s mantle herb

Alchemilla mollis, a fabulous perennial, deserves a spot in every garden.

Alchemilla mollis key facts:

Name: Alchemilla mollis
Common names: lady’s mantle, alchemilla
Family: Rosaceae
Type: perennial

Shape: mound
Height: 1 to 1½ feet (30 to 50 cm)
Plant density: 4-6 per sq yard/m²)

Exposure: sunny, part shade, shade  –  Soil: any type, well-drained –  Blooming: June-July

Hardy and robust, it’s perfect for beginner gardeners. Its blue-green foliage gets adorned with lovely small yellow flowers in early summer.

→ Health benefits of Alchemilla mollis

Planting of Alchemilla mollis

Lady’s Mantle fits everywhere, whether in shade or sun. It only asks for constant soil moisture. However, it shouldn’t be waterlogged. So, ensure that soil doesn’t hold water and that drainage is sufficient.

Planting ideally happens in fall. In this way, the plant has enough time to establish its root network, helping it endure drought. If you can’t avoid it, spring planting works fine, but you’ll need to monitor summer watering.

• To plant Alchemilla mollis, dig an 8-inch hole (around 20 cm), settle the plant inside, refill the hole and tamp the soil down well.

Alchemilla care

Aside from watering during extra-dry periods, Lady’s Mantle isn’t much of a concern when it comes to upkeep.

• As summer bids “Adieu” and the flowers and foliage start to lose their charm, don’t hesitate to trim back the clump. It gives way for new leaves to sprout, forming a beautiful green cushion.
• Come springtime, you can give it a good clean up again, cutting back any foliage that winter might have left worse for wear.

Propagation:

It’s no secret – Lady’s Mantle self-seeds quite willingly. So, you’ve got a couple of options for propagating:

• Either you transplant the spontaneous seedlings in fall;
• Or, you divide the plant in spring, digging it up and splitting the clump with a sharp spade.

Pests and diseases:

This green dame, the Alchemilla mollis, is remarkably resilient. Most diseases steer clear from it, and pests like aphids, snails and slugs just don’t seem to have a taste for her.

Landscaping uses of Alchemilla mollis

Lady’s Mantle, a nice round, mounding plant, has many potential homes in your garden:

• In flower beds;
• Bordering other plants;
• As a standalone or mixed in with other perennials.

When choosing companion plants, you might keep the yellow-green hue and go for daylilies. Or mix up colors for a harmonious look with perennials bearing blue-violet flowers such as sage, aconite, or bellflower, among others.

If you’ve got a pond, put some Lady’s Mantle plants by its side. It’ll be magical!

Smart tip

After cutting, Lady’s Mantle flowers make for a truly charming bouquet.