What Is Lady's Mantle?

The name "lady's mantle" encompasses a group of perennials known for slightly toothed, scalloped leaves reminiscent of a lady's cape. Known by the botanical name Alchemilla, the genus includes several hundred species, but only a few have won gardener's hearts. The species most often referred to simply as "lady's mantle" -- without any added qualifier -- is Alchemilla mollis. Sometimes called soft lady's mantle, the plant and its cultivars exemplify the genus for many gardeners.

One lady's mantle feature is the velvety texture of its gray-green leaves. Alpine lady's mantle (Alchemilla alpina) has this feature on only the underside of its foliage. Viewed from above, the trait outlines leaves in silver. Soft lady's mantle has the delicate velvet on both leaf sides, and early risers may see drops of moisture cling to the leaves and catch the day's first rays. Most lady's mantles form softly rounded clumps, always complementing and never clashing with garden companions. Leaves range from 2-inch, divided foliage of alpine lady's mantle to soft lady's mantle's 6-inch leaves. Both plants are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 9.

Lady's mantles bloom from late spring to late summer on upright stems held above mounded foliage. Clusters of green to vibrant, chartreuse flowers blanket plants in clouds of blooms. The small flowers lack petals. So the long-lasting effect depends more on color than peak timing. Soft lady's mantle and its cultivars offer large, bright flower clusters measuring up to 9 inches across. "Auslese" lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis "Auslese"), hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8, delivers masses of bright, lime-green flowers. "Thriller" lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis "Thriller"), hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9, billows with neon-yellow blooms.

Full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil keep lady's mantles growing well. In direct sunlight and high temperatures, their leaves wilt and curl without consistent moisture. Monitor soil 3 to 4 inches deep, and keep it cool and moist -- never dry or soggy. Lady's mantles adapt to all soil types, from sand to clay and alkaline to acidic. No major pests or diseases trouble them, and deer and rabbits bypass their fuzzy leaves. The flowers are used in fresh and dried arrangements. Cut back plants after they flower to encourage new growth. Use garden scissors or hedging shears, and sterilize the blades with household disinfectant before and after you shear.

Many lady's mantle species, including soft lady's mantle, self-seed heavily. Although lady's mantles are not invasive, untended plants can spread aggressively. One reason lies in a process known as apomixis, which few plants share. This condition allows some lady's mantle species to produce seeds without fertilization. The seedlings that result are genetically identical to their parent. Lady's mantle pairs this ability with a tendency toward extra chromosomes, resulting in varied features and tolerances that augment its spreading capabilities. Prevent the plants from self-seeding by removing their spent flower stalks before seeds form.