If you like interesting foliage, you will find it with Lady’s Mantle. The light green, lobed leaves are fan shaped, up to 6″ across, and form an attractive clump about 12″ high. Each leaf is covered with hairs that catch and hold water drops in a way that catches the eye and creates an intriguing sight. From late spring to early summer large trusses of small chartreuse flowers appear that are beautiful in both fresh and dried arrangements. Lady’s mantel is an herbaceous clump-forming perennial native to mountainous area of the Carpathians, Caucausus, and Turkey. It is a member of the rose family, Rosaceae, that also includes apples, almonds, meadowsweet, and pyracantha. Nice used as edger or ground cover. The genus name, Alchemilla, is derived from the Arabic word for alchemy in the belief that the beads of water that collect on the leaves could be used to change base metal into gold. The specific epithet, mollis, is the Latin word meaning soft and refers to the texture of the leaves.
Type: Herbaceous perennial and evergreen.
Bloom: Small chartreuse flowers borne in dense clusters on arching stems, June-July.
Size: Up to 18” H x 24″ W.
Light: Sun to part shade (tolerates more sun if water plentiful).
Soil: Average, moist, well drained ; pH 5.8-6.8.
Hardiness: Zones 3-7.
Care: Requires little care if water sufficient.
Pests and Diseases: Can develop rot in hot humid conditions of the Southeast. Use a fungicide if this problem develops.
Propagation: Division in early spring; reseeds.
Companion plants: The chartreuse flowers are particularly beautiful with pink flowers that bloom at the same time such as roses, astilbes, Asiatic and Oriental lilies. Also attractive with Siberian iris
Comments: Water is key to success with this plant. It will thrive if it has plenty of water but will brown out and languish without it.
Karen Meyers