PlantFiles: Lady's Mantle
Alchemilla mollis

Unusual texture, very pretty after rain or in the morning when drops of dew collect at the edges of each leaf like a string of diamonds.

I planted lady's mantle under a large maple tree in my front yard last year. It came back wonderfully, and looks absolutely beautiful...especially when it rains!

I grow this primarily as a foliage plant. Its soft blue foliage looks great against darker greens or, in my garden, next to Heuchera 'Purple Palace.' The water beads are an added plus. I'm indifferent to the flowers.

It grows well under a maple tree with full morning sun and no mid-day or evening exposure.

I really like the foliage, but I'm having trouble finding a spot it likes. My soil is a bit sandy and last summer it was in morning sun, but the afternoon shade didn't come early enough and it scorched and is still struggling to recover.

It does tend to flop, but the foamy flowers before they take a nose dive is worth it. As soon as they flop, I cut the whole plant back quite severely. It recovers fairly quickly, and I usually get a second blooming. It also spreads rampantly, but is easy to keep in bounds by yanking out the wayward plants.

Got three small plants from a neighbor,planted in a new full shade garden ,don't think they like it there not doing to well ,I'll see next year not to sure of my feelings on this plant rather boring looking little thing.

Planted in too much sun, lady's mantle may scorch. Appreciate relief from afternoon sun, especially. Great, bold leaf texture is a very pleasing contrast with finer textured plants.

I'm not sure what to do with this plant. On the plus side, it's healthy. On the minus side, the blooms do not stand out -- and they also don't stand UP -- they flop in every direction.
For next year, I'm moving them to a less-visible place where they can crowd out the clover!

This is a great plant for filling in while other perennials are maturing. As prior writers noted, Lady's Mantle volunteers freely, but volunteers are easily weeded or moved. Does really well in a dappled light. In prolonged heat and sun it can scorch or come down with what looks like red spider mites. If that happens, you can cut it way down and it will come back in a matter of weeks.

In my opinion, this plants greatest charm is the way water beads up on the leaves. When the sun hits them, they look like tiny crystals.

Easily grown in average, medium wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers part afternoon shade in hot summer climates. Freely self-seeds in the garden to the point of being invasive in optimum growing conditions. Prompt removal of spent flower stems will not only prevent self-seeding but may also encourage a sparse, late summer rebloom.

Per Michigan State University Extension, Lady's Mantle should be planted with care as it can be invasive. The primary problem is profuse seed production that leads to many volunteer plants. This can be reduced by removing the flower stalks as the flowers fade. The flower color ranges from yellow to green. The blossoms can be used in either fresh or dried arrangements. The foliage is rather large and deeply lobed.

I've had it for 2+ years, and it has created some nice-sized offsets, but nothing thuggish so far (but my soil is heavy clay, which tends to put a damper on high-spirited plants.) Nice plant for the shade garden, I have some in my woodland area, and some in a more cultivated setting near the house and large pond.