Lady’s mantle is a clump-forming perennial that is often used as a ground cover by planting individual plants close together. In addition, this plant tends to self-seed and so helps to maintain the ground cover effect by filling in with small seedlings.
Size and method of spreading:
Lady’s mantle has a mounded form and grows up to 18 inches high when in flower. It is a clump-forming ground cover. Clump-forming ground covers are plants that are not usually thought of as ground covers. They are perennials that can be planted closely together to provide the visual effect of a ground cover.
Native geographic location and habitat:
This is native to Europe.
Leaf description:
The leaves arise from the base of the plant and are nearly round, but with 7 to 11 very shallow lobes. The leaves have hair on them and often collect water drops after a rain.
Flower description:
The small flowers are yellow-green and are produced in small clusters from late spring into summer. Deadheading after flowering will limit the number of seeds produced.
Fruit description:
The fruit are small, dry achenes and not ornamentally important.
Plant care:
Lady’s mantle does best in a cooler climate. In areas with hot summers, it is best to have this plant in some shade. Soil should be consistently moist. Deadheading may be needed to control excess seedlings.
List of pests, diseases, and tolerances:
This plant self-seeds, sometimes prolifically, and may produce more plants than wanted. It is resistant to deer.
Auslese lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis ‘Auslese’):
This cultivar has larger leaves and an abundance of flowers.
Thriller lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis ‘Thriller’):
This cultivar grows a little larger than the species (up to 24 inches high), has larger leaves, and is a prolific producer of flowers.
