How to Plant and Grow Lady’s Mantle

There are more than 300 species in the Alchemilla genus. Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis) is by far the most popular one grown in gardens. This classic perennial is an easy way to add charm to your cottage garden. Ever-popular lady’s mantle lends an interesting texture to any landscape with its fuzzy, cup-like leaves that hold onto water droplets like little gems. Lady’s mantle features dainty yellow flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer in airy masses above the foliage. Initially, the flowers sit above the foliage until they become too heavy and droop down gracefully. The flowers, similar to baby’s breath, last for several weeks and are excellent for both cut and dried flower arrangements.

Where to Plant Lady’s Mantle

Lady’s mantle is highly adaptable; you can plant it in full sun, partial shade, and even shade, as long as the soil is well-drained. The soil can be slightly acidic, neutral, or alkaline.

This long-lived perennial plant also blends well with other spring-blossoming plants in your garden and makes a good front-of-the-border option because of its tidy, low growth habit. In addition to its flowers, lady's mantle is prized for its foliage. Shallow leaves of cool green with softly scalloped edges are covered with soft hairs, creating a velvety appearance. The foliage makes a nice coarse-textured groundcover that looks attractive when planted underneath small trees. It also works well in rock gardens.

How and When to Plant Lady’s Mantle

You can plant lady’s mantle in the spring after the last frost or in the fall, at least six weeks before the first fall frost to give the roots time to get established. 

Dig a hole at least twice the size of the nursery container and deep enough to that the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Backfill the hole and gently tamp down the soil around the base. Water immediately.

Space plants 18 inches apart.

Lady’s Mantle Care Tips

Light

Although the plant can grow in full sun, partial shade, and shade, too much sun may scorch the leaves.

Soil and Water

Lady's mantle can handle varied soil conditions but prefers slightly acidic to neutral or slightly alkaline soil (pH 5.5 to 7.5). Once established, it is drought-tolerant, however, it will require supplemental water in high heat or full sun areas to prevent leaves from turning brown.

Temperature and Humidity 

Lady’s mantle is a winter-hardy perennial, but it is not suitable for hot climates. In high humidity, the plant might get some fungal diseases. 

Fertilizer

Fertilizing is generally not necessary for lady's mantle unless you have exceptionally poor soil. If you have inferior soil, a small amount of slow-release organic fertilizer or compost can be mixed in at the time of planting.

Pruning

Typically, the plant only needs the occasional cleanup of leaves as they turn brown and deadheading of flowers as they begin to fade. Deadheading the flowers is also a good idea to prevent lady’s mantle from reseeding. Cutting the plant back in the summer and watering it can produce new fall growth.

Lady's mantle overwinters better if the leaves remain on the plant because they provide insulation. In the early spring, remove any brown and crispy leaves to make room for new growth.

Potting and Repotting Lady’s Mantle

Lady’s mantle can be grown in a pot with large drainage holes and well-draining potting soil. However, despite its winter-hardiness, in a pot the roots are exposed and subject to freeze-and-thaw cycles. While the plant should definitely remain outdoors during the winter, the roots need protection. You can sink the pot into the ground, insulate it with a thick layer of mulch it, or winterize it by placing it in a second, larger pot to create a planting silo.

Pests and Problems 

Lady’s mantle is not bothered by pests and diseases. Rabbits and deer also leave it alone. In strong sun exposure or dry weather, the plant looks ragged but will recover when the weather changes.

How to Propagate Lady’s Mantle

The easiest way to propagate lady’s mantle is by dividing a mature plant in the spring or early fall. Dig up the entire plant with all its roots. With a sharp knife or spade, cut the root ball into sections, making sure that each one has a good number of leaves attached to it. Plant it at the same depth as the original plant and keep it well-watered until it no longer looks limp.

Types of Lady's Mantle

Alpine Lady's Mantle

A miniature version of A. mollis, this has smaller pleated leaves with silver edging on slowly creeping plants with the same blooms. Zones 3-7

Auslese Lady’s Mantle

Alchemilla mollis ‘Auslese’ is a tidy, compact cultivar with gray-green scalloped foliage and bright lime green flower sprays. It grows in tufted mounds 12 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide. Zone 3-8

Thriller Lady's Mantle

With a height and width of 1 to 2 feet, this cultivar is more upright than the species, has larger leaves, and blooms more prolifically. Zone 3-7

Lady's Mantle Companion Plants

Astilbe

Astilbe brings a graceful, feathering note to moist, shady landscapes. In cooler climates in the northern third or so of the country, it can tolerate full sun provided it has a constant supply of moisture. In drier sites, however, the leaves will scorch in full sun. Feathery plumes of white, pink, lavender, or red flowers rise above the finely divided foliage from early to late summer depending on the variety. It will spread slowly over time where well-situated. Most commercially available types are complex hybrids.

Coral Bells

Exciting new selections with incredible foliage patterns have put coral bells on the map. Previously enjoyed mainly for their spires of dainty reddish flowers, coral bells are now grown as much for the unusual mottling and veining of different-color leaves. The low clumps of long-stemmed evergreen or semi-evergreen lobed foliage make coral bells fine groundcover plants. They enjoy humus-rich, moisture-retaining soil. Beware of heaving in areas with very cold winters.

Ligularia

Add a little sunshine to your garden with imposing ligularia. Its golden flower spikes or flattened heads of yellow daisy-like flowers shine brightly in sun or part shade. The bold leaves are kidney-shaped or jagged along the edges. These moisture lovers do beautifully at the edges of ponds and streams, and they must have deep, rich soil that remains moist. Position ligularia so it has a little shade during the heat of the day.