Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Lady's Mantle: Dew-Catching Leaves and Chartreuse Froth
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Lady's mantle is loved for its soft, rounded, scalloped leaves, which catch dew and raindrops that sit on the surface like tiny beads of glass. From late spring into early summer it sends up loose, frothy sprays of tiny chartreuse flowers that spill over and around the gray-green leaves. It forms a tidy, slowly spreading clump 15 to 18 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide.
It is easy to grow, holds an Award of Garden Merit, and deer and rabbits leave it alone. Some plants are high maintenance; this one mostly just sits there looking good after a rain.
Lady's mantle at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Alchemilla mollis |
| Flowers | Frothy sprays of tiny chartreuse yellow-green stars |
| Foliage | Soft gray-green, round, scalloped, softly hairy |
| Size | 15 to 18 inches tall, 18 to 24 inches wide |
| Bloom | Late May, peaking mid-June |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3-7 |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Deer | Resistant |
On the edge of the lavender bed
Lady's mantle wants more moisture and a bit more shade than lavender, so it should not be tucked in among the lavender mounds. The outer edge of the bed, where the soil stays a little damper and the hose reaches, is the right compromise, or a partly shaded border within view. From there its chartreuse froth makes a bright, soft frame for purple, and its gray-green leaves echo lavender's foliage.
It blooms in late spring and early summer, overlapping the start of lavender season. Plan the edge in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Light: full sun in cool spots, afternoon shade where summers are hot and dry.
- Water: regular moisture in well-drained soil. Leaves scorch and look tired in dry heat.
- Deadheading: shear off flowers as they fade to prevent heavy self-seeding and bring on a fresh flush of leaves.
- Midsummer: if foliage looks worn after hot, humid weather, shear it back for new growth.
- Winter: very hardy in Michigan with no special care. Cut back tattered foliage in late fall or early spring.
A florist's favorite filler
Lady's mantle is rated excellent as a cut flower and good for drying. Its airy chartreuse sprays fill out a bouquet the way baby's breath does, and they make fresh or dried lavender look even more purple. Cut sprays when most of the tiny flowers are open. Plan a cutting row with the Cut Flower Planner.
The 72-cell plug tray
Lady's mantle is offered as a 72-cell plug tray, a good fit for edging long borders or planting a groundcover under light shade. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Will it spread everywhere?
The clump spreads slowly, but it self-seeds freely if you do not deadhead. Shear off spent flowers to keep it in bounds.
Why do the leaves hold water drops?
The soft, fine hairs on the leaves keep water beading on the surface instead of soaking in, which is what makes the plant sparkle after rain.
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