Lady's Mantle is an herbaceous perennial that originated in the Eastern Carpathians and the Caucasus. It is a member of the rose family (Rosaceae). The genus name, Alchemilla , may be a Latinized form of an Arabic word. The species name, mollis , means soft which is an accurate description of the leaves of this plant. They are soft and downy, up to 6 inches wide, circular in shape with 9 to 11 shallow lobes. The color is a soft pale green. They form a dense mound up to 12 inches high and wide. In June the plant carries bunches (compound cymes) of starry, chartreuse flowers reaching as high as 18 inches. The flowers do set seed and self-seeding can be a problem if it is growing in optimum conditions. Trimming the dead flowers will tidy the plant, encourage new growth, and reduce the seeding problem. The plant will spread into a dense cover and the simplest way of propagating it is through division in the spring or autumn. Lady's Mantle does well in all types of soil as long as there is moisture and has no real preference for acidic or alkaline soils. It can grow in full sun, part shade, and shade making it perfect for underplanting shrubs and trees. In drier areas, the leaves may scorch in full sun. Aside from an occasional haircut, it requires very little care. One of the most endearing traits is the way the leaves hold water in near perfect droplets after a rainstorm. Lady's Mantle tolerates rabbits and deer. Lady's Mantle is perfect for a massed ground cover. It can be grown for cutting and drying and is the archetypical cottage garden plant. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems : No major problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Mounding; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Orbicular
Leaf margin
Dentate; Lobed
Leaf feel
Soft
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The pale green, palmately veined, soft, downy leaves of Lady's Mantle form a spreading mound that is the perfect accent to many dark leaved shrubs. They are also complement roses well. But they are especially beautiful when covered with small droplets of rain after a summer shower.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Good Cut; Good Dried; Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The individual flowers are shaped like tiny stars. But when the plant is in full bloom, it is like looking at sea foam. The pale chartreuse froth blends with the soft green beneath to give a beautiful display.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Insignificant
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Stem color
Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Eastern Carpathians, Caucasus
Distribution
Widely throughout the world
Wildlife value
Attracts butterflies
Attracts
Butterflies
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Achene
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Patio; Slope/Bank; Walkways; Woodland
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; English Garden; Shade Garden