The Alchemilla mollis is a genus from the Rosaceae family and is native to Europe and Asia. The Alchemilla mollis is commonly named lady’s mantle.
The leaves are hairy and water-repellent which makes the raindrops and dew lay on top of the leaves. Mollis is Latin and means soft referring to the soft hairy leaves. The leaves grow up to about 10 inches (25 centimeters) high. The flowers appear above the mounds of foliage to about 20 inches (50 centimeters) high. Most of the flower stems drop to the ground which is why the plants take up quite a broad space. If you want to use the Alchemilla mollis as edging for a path do not plant them too close to the path if you want to have a path left.
The flowers are greenish-yellow and are often used in bouquets. The lady’s mantle is self-seeding but it is easy to remove the seedlings or replant them so it is not a problem at all. The lady’s mantle is clump-forming. The clumps become wider slowly. To prevent spreading through seed, you can cut off the flowers immediately after bloom. This will prevent the seed forming. You can also cut the leaves to the ground at the same time. New leaves will form rapidly and also new flowers will develop.
The lady’s mantle prefers a position with part shade and moist soil. In full sun the soil needs to be moister. Alchemilla mollis is perfect as groundcover, cut flower, along edges and in borders and is salt and quite drought tolerant.
Attracts bees: no
Characteristic: newly emerging every year
Deer resistant: yes
Exposure: sun/ part shade
Flower color: green/yellow
Flowering time: May – July
Foliage color: green
Fragrant flower: no
Hardiness: -25 ºC (-13 F)
Height: 10 inches (25 cm)
Soil: normal/moist