Alchemilla mollis Seeds - Ladys Mantle

Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla mollis) is an adorable ground-cover plant with round, pleated greyish-green leaves and sprays of chartreuse flowers in summer. Soft to the touch, especially beautiful when raindrops and dewdrops bead up on its leaves, this hardy, semi-evergreen perennial is a welcome companion to any bedding plant and is attractive nearly all year-round. Suitable for growing in shallow soil as long as it stays cool and moist.

Alchemilla mollis or Lady's Mantle is a perennial herbaceous plant that belongs to the Rosaceae family. It is native to Eurasia (from south-western Europe to the Caucasus), Asia Minor (northern Iran) and Japan. It enjoys cool, fertile, clayey yet well-drained soil and part shade as leaves may scorch in hot afternoon sun. This excellent ground cover self-seeds easily to the point of becoming invasive in the right conditions. Mature plants form a spreading clump with a rounded, flared habit (40-50 cm high and wide). The large, circular, scalloped leaves are pleated with finely toothed margins and a soft texture. They measure 5 to 8 cm in diameter and have a light green colour, somewhere between chartreuse and lime green, with slight bluish or silvery tones depending on the light. They have strong water-repellent properties, i.e. water collects into drops on their surface instead of spreading out or being absorbed. The leaves remain on the plant during milder winters. In June-July, loose, cloudy clusters of bright, greenish-yellow flowers appear over the foliage. They look lovely in fresh or dry floral arrangements or bouquets.

In its natural habitat, Lady's mantle grows in rocky, clayey mountain soil, in meadows and on the edge of forests. It is easy to find a place for it in the garden as it is so robust, versatile and easy to combine with all kinds of shrubs and perennials. It is an excellent ground cover plant, in full sun or half-shade. Its chartreuse flowers look beautiful alongside English roses and lilies. Alchemilla mollis is unrivalled to soften the edges of new concrete buildings, driveways and paths. It will grow in shallow soil as long as doesn't dry out, making it ideal for growing in the cracks between paving, stone walls or garden steps. It pairs well with spring flowering bulbs or autumn flowering meadow saffron.