When it arrives
Your plug tray
72-cell plugs are tiny: pot them into 3–4 inch pots, keep moist in bright shade, and plant out once roots fill the pot. Harden off for a week before planting in the garden.
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Real dishes from our Field Notes recipes, shared by the people who made them.
Lady's Mantle grown by our community
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- Mature height
- 18.0 in
- Mature spread
- 24.0 in
- Bloom
- Late-May – peak Mid-June
- Fragrance
- None
- Deer
- Resistant
Lavender companion · grow guide
How to grow Lady's Mantle
Lady's Mantle · Alchemilla mollis
Lady's mantle wants evenly moist, humus-rich soil and relief from hot afternoon sun. Give it that and it makes soft, scalloped mounds with frothy chartreuse flowers in early summer.
Check my zone & planting dates
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Part shadeLight
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Moderate waterAverage drainage
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pH 6.0–7.5Soil
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Zones 3a–7bHardiness
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18″ tall24″ wide
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ResistantDeer · rabbits some resistance
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Not known toxicPets
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if Lady's Mantle will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 3a–7b
Spring after hard frost, or late summer to early fall with 6 weeks before freeze-up.
Your year with Lady's Mantle
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When to plant
Spring after hard frost, or late summer to early fall with 6 weeks before freeze-up.
How deep
Set the crown exactly at soil level, at the same depth it grew in the plug. Don't bury the crown.
Spacing
18–24 inches apart; mounds reach about 12–18 inches tall and 24 inches wide.
Soil
Rich, loamy, high in organic matter · pH 6.0–7.5
Fix-it tip: Work compost into sandy soil so it holds moisture, and into heavy clay so the crown isn't sitting wet in winter.
Sun
Part shade (tolerates full sun in cool northern summers if the soil stays moist).
In hot, humid summers afternoon shade keeps the leaves from scorching and browning at the edges.
Don’t give up on it
Is it alive? What spring looks like
New pleated leaves unfurl from the crown in mid-spring, often after many earlier perennials. Until then the crown looks like a small brown knob at soil level, which is normal.
Spring
Clear old leaves; top-dress with compost as new leaves emerge.
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Summer
Enjoy chartreuse flowers in early summer; deadhead and water during dry spells.
Fall
Divide crowded clumps; keep watering until the ground cools.
Winter
Leave in place; foliage dies back to the crown.
Watering
First season: Keep the soil evenly moist (not soggy) through the first summer; check twice a week in hot spells.
After that: Water deeply during dry spells; it is not drought tolerant and sulks in dry soil.
Feeding
Light feeder. A top-dressing of compost in spring is usually all it needs; too much fertilizer gives floppy growth.
Pruning & deadheading
Shear off flower stems as they fade to stop heavy self-seeding. If foliage looks tired by midsummer, cut it back hard and water; fresh leaves regrow.
Dividing
Divide in spring or early fall every 4–5 years, or when the center opens up.
Winter
Very cold hardy (zones 3–8). Leave foliage in place over winter and tidy up in spring.
Summer heat
Struggles in hot, humid southern summers; leaves scorch and may melt out in heat. Afternoon shade and steady moisture help.
Brown, crispy leaf edges
Likely cause: Too much sun or dry soil
What to do: Water deeply and give afternoon shade
Seedlings popping up everywhere
Likely cause: Self-sown seed from old flowers
What to do: Cut flower stems as soon as they fade
Tired, sprawling foliage in July
Likely cause: Heat and age of leaves
What to do: Cut back to the base and water; new leaves follow
Too wet or too dry?
Crisp brown leaf edges and flopping mean too dry; yellowing leaves and a mushy crown mean soggy soil.
Watch for
- Slugs in damp shade
- Leaf scorch in hot sun or drought
- Fungal leaf spots in very humid weather
Pets & wildlife
Not listed by ASPCA; no known toxicity reported. Discourage pets from chewing any garden plant.
Deer: resistant · Rabbits: somewhat resistant
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
In a container
Good in pots · 2 gallon+
Use a rich potting mix and water often; containers dry out fast.
Indoors
Outdoor plant
Needs a cold winter dormancy outdoors.
Winter chill
Best after a cold winter
Blooms in early summer after a normal winter; first-year plants may bloom lightly.
Growing it on
Plugs from the tray
3–4 inch pots for 3–5 weeks, until roots hold the soil
Garden bed or a 2 gallon pot
Time to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Plant it near your lavender
Plant it on the shadier, moister edge of a lavender planting rather than in the same lean, dry bed. Lavender wants dry sun; lady's mantle wants moist soil and afternoon shade.
Same bedNearbyIts own area
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