Alchemilla mollis

About this cultivar:

Alchemilla mollis, commonly called lady's-mantle, is a native to southern Europe and grown throughout the world as an ornamental garden plant. Chartreuse yellow flowers are held in dense clusters above the foliage. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

In wet weather water beads collect and sparkle on the leaves and a wonderful way. These beads of water were considered by alchemists to be the purest form of water. They utilised this water in their quest to turn base metal into gold. Hence the name Alchemilla.

Gardeners better know the plant as a prolific self seeder - be careful as it can become invasive.

• Position: Full sun, partial shade
• Soil: Almost any soil - grows well in Ballyrobert!
• Flowers: June, July, August, September
  
• Other features: Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit (RHS AGM)
• Hardiness: H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20°C), Fully hardy - grows well in Ballyrobert!
• Habit: Clump forming
• Foliage: Deciduous
• Height: 30 - 60 cm (1 - 2 ft)
• Spread: 30 - 60 cm (1 - 2 ft)
• Time to full growth: 2 to 5 years
• Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial
• Colour: White, green, yellow
• Goes well with: Ground cover plants such as Phlox subulata, Geranium & Vinca. Other small plants, alone in the front of a border, rock garden, path, or wall.

About this genus:

Alchemilla, also known as Lady's mantle, forms quite a large genus featuring a wide range of plant-types. Most species are clump-forming, or mounded, perennials with leaves arising from woody rhizomes. They tend to thrive in cool regions and are quite water-resistant. As you can imagine they often thrive in our garden!

The best use of Alchemilla in the garden tends to be as ground cover. As a result they compliment other ground cover type plants such as Phlox subulata, Geranium and even Vinca.