Alchemilla caucasica

The Alchemilla caucasica, or Caucasian lady's mantle, is a small, compact perennial ground cover that is easy to grow. It has a dense and bushy habit, forming a low cushion about 30 cm (12in) in all directions. Its pretty, round, soft and serrated leaves have a strong water-repellent property and disappear from May to August under abundant clusters of small yellow-green flowers, giving a very delicate appearance. This wild, ornamental and medicinal plant has a place in all gardens, even the smallest ones. It thrives best in semi-shade and prefers humus-rich, moist soil.

The Alchemilla caucasica is an herbaceous perennial in the rose family, native to central Europe, particularly the mountains of the Caucasus and the Balkans. It forms a 30 cm (12in) tall flowering tuft. Its foliage is remarkable, covered in dewdrops in the morning and very soft to the touch. The leaves are almost circular, with a finely serrated edge. They are light green in colour on both sides. They are divided into 7 to 12 shallow lobes and are attached to light green stems tinged with red, more or less villous. The flowers appear from May to October, in the form of tiny flowers gathered in diffuse corymbiform clusters (cloud-like clusters), yellow-green in colour, light and very bright. This perennial is a robust ground cover that spreads slowly and sometimes self-seeds in the garden. The plant is usually completely deciduous in winter.

In nature, lady's mantle grows near woods and in moist pastures, from lowlands in the north to alpine regions of all mountains throughout France. In the garden, it will cover the ground in dappled sunlight or semi-shade, harmonising its chartreuse flowering with beautiful English or antique roses, as well as with majestic lilies. This plant has no rival in softening the edges of a newly laid path and concealing bare soil around recent constructions. It can grow in very little soil, as long as it remains moist, which allows it to be planted in the joints of paving, the gaps in stone walls like Roman ruins, or in the steps of a staircase. Its lime green flowers can be used in fresh or dried bouquets.

Etymology: The name Alchemilla comes from the Arabic word al-kemelih, which is related to alchemy. The dewdrops collected on the leaves were used to make the famous 'celestial water' used by alchemists to prepare the philosopher's stone.