Alchemilla mollis

Lady’s Mantle
Alchemilla mollis
Type: Perennial
Exposure: Sun / Part Shade
Water: Regular

For Sarah, who loves these things…

This versatile perennial is grown mostly for its foliage. It forms a clump of olive green leaves with ruffled edges that reaches 12-18in (30-45cm) high by 18-24in (45-60cm) wide. Clusters of miniscule chartreuse to golden-yellow flowers rise above the foliage in spring. It benefits from being sheared back after bloom, but will self seed readily if allowed to go to seed.

The botanical name has a cool back story. A prized feature of Lady’s Mantle is the way that water beads and sparkles on the leaves after a rain. It turns out that in the 16th century, alchemists, believing these beads of water to be the purest of pure, would collect it for use in their attempts to turn base metals to gold. That’s why it’s called Alchemilla.

(ps – it didn’t work)

Cheers,

John