By Julie Christensen
Like peonies and lilacs, lady’s mantle is an old-fashioned plant that deserves a revival. Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 7, lady’s mantle flowers (Alchemilla mollis) have a rounded, mounding form and charming scalloped leaves. The leaves are large, deep green and velvety. They’re especially lovely after a rain when the leaves collect the raindrops, of first thing in the morning when they’re covered in dew.
In addition to its pleasing form and leaves, lady’s mantle produces clusters of small, chartreuse flowers in spring and early summer. Lady’s mantle grows to 18 inches tall and 2 feet wide, depending on the variety. It grows easily in the right conditions – fertile, moist soil and partial shade. In dry, hot conditions, the leaves become faded and ragged. Plant lady’s mantle along walkways or as a border plant in a shade garden.
Planting Lady’s Mantle Flowers
Lady’s mantle grows easily from seed, divisions or nursery transplants. Plant a few plants in the garden and you’ll soon have more than you need. Sow seeds in the garden in the fall or in early spring, or you can start them indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost. Keep the seed trays moist and plant them outdoors when the plants stand 4 inches tall. Space transplants 12 inches apart. They’ll fill in quickly to make a dense ground cover.
Amend the soil before planting with compost or manure and dig in a slow-release 10-10-10 fertilizer at a rate of ½ cup per 100 square feet. Water the plants at least weekly as they become established to keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy. Mulch the ground with 2 inches of wood chips, which suppresses weed growth and also conserves moisture.
One frequent problem with lady’s mantle is its enthusiastic self-sowing. In moist, shady areas, the plants can quickly become invasive. Deadhead the flowers as soon as they fade to minimize this problem and pull up any plants that grow in unwanted areas.
Divide lady’s mantle every two to three years to prevent overcrowding and to rejuvenate growth. Dig up the plants and cut them in three pieces with a shovel or knife. Replant the divisions – or give them away if you have more than you need.
Problems and Pests
Lady’s mantle rarely suffers from disease or pest problems. The most common problem – leaf scorch – is caused by too much sun and heat and not enough water. Address those issues and you’ll likely have success.
Cultivars Worth Trying
- Common lady’s mantle is the species plant and the one you’re most likely to find in nurseries. It grows 12 to 24 inches tall.
- ‘Auslese’ has deep chartreuse flowers.
- ‘Red Mantle’ has red stems that contrast nicely with the chartreuse flowers. Its leaves are blue-green.
- ‘Robusta’ is a cold-hardy, long-lived variety.
- ‘Senior’ is the one to choose if you want a compact ground cover.
For more information, visit the following links:
Lady’s Mantle from the University of Illinois Extension
Lady’s Mantle from the University of Vermont Extension
Learn how to deadhead Lady’s Mantle flowers on YouTube.
An overview of Lady’s Mantle on YouTube.
Green Path Herb School discusses Lady’s Mantle in the context of herbal uses on YouTube.
Julie Christensen learned about gardening on her grandfather’s farm and mother’s vegetable garden in southern Idaho. Today, she lives and gardens on the high plains of Colorado. When she’s not digging in the dirt, Julie writes about food, education, parenting and gardening.
when trimming Ladies Mantle, how far down the stem should I cut off? I don’t want the plant to look bare this summer but when I take off just the tot flowers I notice small sprays of the dead flowers further down. I have a large patch of them so I would like to cut the stems half way down and get all the little side shoots of dead flowers.