Description
Alchemilla – Lady’s Mantle
There are about 300 species of clump forming perennials, in this genus. They are found in light woodland and some rocky habitants in North temperate and arctic zones and from Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia. Valued for their foliage and frothy sprays of flowers. Most have woody creeping roots and shallowly to palmately lobed rounded or kidney shaped attractively pleated or often covered with fine hairs. They bear 1/8” wide green or yellowish green that are long lasting and great for cut flowers. Many species have styptic and other medicinal properties.
These frost hardy species grow in any moist soil that’s humus rich in sun or partial shade but foliage will deteriorate in summer heat. Divided in late winter to early spring.
Prone to slugs and snail damage.
Alchemilla aplina – Alpine Lady’s Mantle – This mat forming perennial grows 6” inches tall and 18” inches wide. In summer very small erect stem bear greenish yellow flowers. Leaves have 5-7 deeply lobe and are 1 ½” long are green above and with silvery undersides.
Zones 3-9
