What is Alchemilla?

Alchemilla is a permanent herbal plant from Europe and the British Isles. Alchemilla, commonly called Lady's Mantle, is a member of the Rosaceae family. Silver-green leaves add a fine color to the gardens, where it is commonly used for marginal paths and provides contrast to bright flowers. The herbalists used Lady's cloak as a medicinal plant for centuries. Alchemilla Xanthochlora is commonly found in the garden environment and landscape. It grows about 12 inches (30 cm) tall in clusters about 12 inches (30 cm) wide. Alchemilla Mollis, another common type of garden, grows 24 inches (about 60 cm) in clusters of 30 inches wide (about 75 cm). The alpine lady tire is smaller, grows only 8 inches (20 cm) high in clusters 8 inches (20 cm) wide.

The natural range of Alchemilla includes open forests, wet meadows and rocky slopes. Lime green flowers bloom from the beginning to the end of summer and the seeds ripen at the end of summer and early autumn. The leaves have a pleated fan shape that form a shallow cup. After a rainstormare collected in the leaves and create a shimmering effect on the whole plant.

In the garden, this plant grows well in a partial shadow and damp fertile soil. In the cold climate, Lady's Mantle will grow in full sun. This versatile plant is used to soften the edges of the garden, create a ground cover or fill the shaded areas under the trees and larger shrubs. Nutrition requirements are low and other fertilizers should only be necessary if the soil is particularly poor. Lady's Mantle has few predators and requires minimal maintenance in the garden.

Lady's sheath spreads from the underground root system. In areas where winter temperature drops below freezing, the plant dies back to the ground. Dead stems should be limited early in the spring to support new growth. In a slight climate, the plant will remain green throughout the year. During the growing season they should be cropped from the plantLeaves and stems of flowers.

The root ball division is carried out in spring and autumn. Divisions can be planted directly into the soil or grown in pots for the first year. Autumn divisions should be grown in pots for the first winter in areas of heavy frost. The seeds are collected in the autumn and sown for the following spring.