Lady's Mantle
Alchemilla mollis
Lady's Mantle blooms from May through July.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Lady's Mantle
Plant it in part shade. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 3–8. Expect it to reach about 1.3 ft tall and 2 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 2 years.
When to plant Lady's Mantle
Plant Lady's Mantle in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first frost, so roots establish in cool weather. For the middle of its hardy zones 3 to 8 range, spring means April to June and fall means August or September. Once settled, it blooms from May to July.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 5 in April.
Good to know about Lady's Mantle
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Worth knowing
Fine hairs on the pleated leaves catch rain and dew and hold it as near-perfect silvery droplets, the plant's most distinctive ornamental trait. per NC State
Zone rating hinges on heat
Sources split on the warm limit: some say zone 8, one caps it at zone 7. The gap is heat, not cold; in zone 8 give afternoon shade and moisture. per NC State and University of Illinois
Is it drought tolerant?
It splits by standard: an established plant survives dry shade under trees, but it is not xeric. In dry or sunny sites the leaves scorch, so keep it evenly moist. per Penn State and Wisconsin
Self-seeds; shear back after bloom
It self-sows freely and can turn weedy. Shearing the whole plant back after flowering fixes both problems: it removes seed heads before they drop and refreshes the tired foliage. per NC State and Wisconsin
Deer and rabbit resistant
Reliably resistant to both deer and rabbits: multiple sources report deer leave it alone, and it also ranks among the perennials that rabbits seldom damage. per NC State and Iowa State
Few pests or diseases
Notably trouble-free, with no serious insect or disease problems. Poor mid-summer foliage is almost always leaf scorch from dry sun, not a pest, so fix the siting rather than spray. per NC State
Great cut and dried flowers
Frothy sprays of tiny chartreuse flowers rise above the foliage in early summer. They are prized both fresh-cut and dried for arrangements, and a classic cottage-garden edging plant. per NC State
What pairs well with Lady's Mantle
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Pachysandra
Takes part shade to full shade and moderate water; opens in mid spring and overlaps into this one's season; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; lower at 8 in, for the front of the border.
Azalea
Shares part shade and moderate water; opens in mid spring and overlaps into this one's season; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; taller at 3.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Bugleweed
Shares part shade and moderate water; opens in mid spring and overlaps into this one's season; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; lower at 6 in, for the front of the border.
Camellia
Shares part shade and moderate water; blooms in midwinter, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; taller at 6.6 ft, for the layer behind it; they only overlap in zones 7 to 8.
Northern Sea Oats
Shares part shade and moderate water; overlaps, then carries the display into early fall; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 3.3 ft, for the layer behind it; this one spreads, so it will crowd its neighbor in time.
Periwinkle
Shares part shade and low to moderate water; opens in mid spring and overlaps into this one's season; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; lower at 6 in, for the front of the border.
Serviceberry
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens.
Summersweet
Shares part shade and moderate to high water; overlaps, then carries the display into late summer; taller at 5.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
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