Lady’s Mantle Guide: Identify Various Types of Lady’s Mantle Ground Cover

Georgette Kilgore headshot, wearing 8 Billion Trees shirt with forest in the background.Written by Georgette Kilgore

Gardening | August 27, 2024

Woman looking at lady’s mantle plant after learning about its health benefits, wondering how to identify various types of Alchemilla mollis by ID charts of its leaves and flowers, and how to grow Lady’s Mantle as ground cover for landscape gardening.

The Lady’s Mantle plant, or Alchemilla mollis, is a ground cover plant that spreads vertically and horizontally. This plant is common in landscape gardening and can be a great addition to a home garden since it is easy to grow as a decorative land cover.

Due to the hydrophobic qualities of its leaves, drops of water tend to gather at their edges. The leaves lend themselves to Lady’s Mantle symbolism since they are shaped like a dress or cloak; their name stems from the appearance as well as the medicinal properties they provide, specifically for women’s reproductive health.

Also called Bear’s Foot, Lion’s Foot, Nine Hooks, or Ladies Mantle, the plant originates from Europe, specifically the Eastern Carpathians, a mountain range in the Central region.

Lady's Mantle

(Alchemilla mollis)

An image of the Lady's Mantle leaves in an oval frame on green background.
  • Family: Rosaceae
  • Genus: Alchemilla
  • Leaf: Orbicular or kidney-shaped with 5-11 lobes (Light green to olive green)
  • Seed: Smooth, brown, teardrop-shaped
  • Blossoms: Chartreuse stars that form large patches
  • Native Habitat: Mountains/Piedmont
  • Height: 1’-2’ tall
  • Canopy: Up to 2’ tall
  • Type: Perennial (Herbaceous)
  • Native Growing Zone: Europe

This guide will help you learn more about the Lady’s Mantle plant, with plenty of Lady’s Mantle facts to help you identify and grow various types of these invaluable heirloom plants in your garden.

Identifying Different Varieties of Lady’s Mantle

The Lady’s Mantle is a ground cover plant that spreads horizontally with orbicular leaves and small flowers. There are hundreds of varieties of Lady’s Mantle you can choose from to add to your backyard garden.

Types of Lady's Mantle graphics showing images of Auslese, Thriller, Alchemilla vulgaris, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla erythropoda, Alchemilla faroensis, Alchemilla monticola, and Alchemilla subcrenata.

(Alchemilla faroensis Image: Alan Weakley20)

Although they have the same basic identifying factors, here are some differences to look out for:

  • Auslese: This European variety from the A. mollis species has lime green color and grows anywhere from 15” to 18”.
  • Irish Silk: The flowers of this breed will come in more yellow than green.
  • Thriller: This variety has golden flowers and grayish green leaves.
  • Alchemilla vulgaris: Although this variety is smaller than Alchemilla mollis, it shares the majority of its characteristics and is commonly used for medicinal purposes.
  • Mountain Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla alpina): This Lady’s Mantle grows up to 8” tall. The leaves of this are deeply lobed and are lanceolated making the lobed areas thinner and more defined.4 The stems are hairy and weak.
  • Dwarf Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla erythropoda): This variety only grows to 6” tall and also has water repellent leaves that can get a tinge of red when they receive a lot of sun.5
  • Another dwarf species, Alchemilla faroensis, is even smaller, growing up to 3” with bluish-green leaves.
  • Alchemilla ellenbeckii has red stems and only grows to 2” tall. The leaves feature silver edges.
  • Hairy Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla monticola): The flowers of this variety have four petals and can be green or brown in color.6
  • Broadtooth Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla subcrenata): Leaves and stems are hairless,7 and the bottom of the leaf lobes overlap each other.

How To Identify Lady’s Mantle Plant (Alchemilla mollis)

In general, the Lady’s Mantle is easy to identify and is difficult to confuse with any other type of plant, which is convenient since it’s completely edible. The Lady’s Mantle is a ground cover plant so it stays close to the ground and spreads out horizontally.

Identifying Lady’s Mantle Flowers

Identifying Lady’s Mantle flowers isn’t difficult. The flowers are not showy or flashy in any way.

How to identify Lady's Mantle graphic showing images of Lady's Mantle leaf, Lady's Mantle flowers, full-grown Lady's Mantle plant, Lady's Mantle seed pods, and Lady's Mantle stem in circle frames.

They present in a star shape of 7 to 20 petals and come in a chartreuse shade of green.1 They are small flowers, less than an inch in diameter, that grow in clusters, which together look like puffy yellowish-green cotton balls.

Flowers of the Lady’s Mantle typically bloom in spring and last through summer.

Identifying Lady’s Mantle Leaves

The leaves of the Lady’s Mantle plant are soft, velvety, and lobed with serrated edges.2 They give a very pleasing appearance and make it a great addition to a home garden.

Different species will have various lobbed appearances and can have between 5 and 11 folded lobes.

Leaves also grow up to 6” across and are hydrophobic,3 covered in small hairs that keep water droplets suspended on their surface. This water was used to attempt to turn base metals into gold, it’s believed alchemical properties led to its name, Alchemilla.

Identifying Lady’s Mantle Seeds

Lady’s Mantle seeds are smooth, brown, and shaped like a teardrop with a small divot at the bottom. The Lady’s Mantle self-sows its seeds so that it can be a rampant spreader.

What Are the Best Growing Conditions for Lady’s Mantle?

Here are some of the best-growing conditions for a Lady’s Mantle plant when you want to add it to your landscaping garden.

The Best Time To Plant Lady’s Mantle

Spring is when to plant Lady’s Mantle for the best yield,2 after the last frost. You can also plant them before the first frost in the fall giving the root enough time to take hold and last the cold of the winter.

The Average Lady’s Mantle Growth Rate

How long it takes to grow Lady’s Mantle plants can depend on your region, precipitation, and temperature, but in general, it will take 4 to 5 weeks for the seed to germinate.8 If you grow your plant inside to start you will have to grow it four to six weeks before transferring it outdoors.

What Is the Best Lady’s Mantle Growing Zone?

The USDA hardiness zones 3a(-40ºF/-40ºC) to 8b (15ºF/-9.4ºC) are the best growing zones for Lady’s Mantle. Where to grow it in your backyard garden depends on where you want the most ground cover.1

What Are the Watering Needs for Lady’s Mantle?

The watering needs for Lady’s Mantle plants are average, and as long as the soil isn’t overly saturated or too dry you should be fine. You’ll want to avoid overwatering it so your plants don’t develop root rot and ensure that you water it more when it is in full sun for long periods or high heat.

How Much Sun Does the Lady’s Mantle Need?

How much sunlight does Lady’s Mantle need each day? On average, the Lady’s Mantle requires 6 hours of direct sunlight a day,9 but it doesn’t require much light and can be grown in full sun, but benefits from some shade.

Best Soil For Growing Lady’s Mantle

The best soil for Lady’s Mantle is one that is well drained, has medium moisture, and ranges from acidic to neutral (6 to 6.5 pH).10 Lady’s Mantle isn’t picky about soil types and will grow in sand, loam, clay, and chalk.11

Tips For Growing a Lady’s Mantle From a Seed, Cutting, or Seedling

Once successfully grown, the Lady’s Mantle plant will have no problems spreading. Because they self-sow, this plant can easily become an invasive species in your garden, spreading throughout and making it hard to find room if you don’t prevent their seeding.

A picture of a home garden with a number of different types of plants and Lady's Mantle providing ground cover.

(Image: F. D. Richards18)

For how far apart to plant Lady’s Mantle, you have to consider how much ground you want to cover. It’s recommended you space your plants 8 to 12 inches apart.10 Here are planting tips for Lady’s Mantle, whether you are planting it from a seed, seedling, or cutting.

Growing Lady’s Mantle From a Seed

In order to grow Lady’s Mantle from a seed, barely cover the seed with soil after the danger of frost has subsided, generally in early spring.12 Make sure to keep it well-watered until it has been established.

Growing Lady’s Mantle From a Cutting

If you are interested in propagating Lady’s Mantle, simply dig up an entire plant and separate the roots into three pieces.10 Plant those separated pieces into a new area and ensure you continue to water them until they have established in their new location.

Growing Lady’s Mantle From a Seedling

If you plan on planting a Lady’s Mantle from a seedling you’ll want to grow it indoors until it is 4 inches in height;10 then it is safe to transfer to the outdoors. Once planted, water regularly till the roots have been established.

The Best Companion Plants For Growing Lady’s Mantle

Lady’s Mantle is a great companion plant in your home garden since it draws butterflies as pollinators. It also goes well with ferns, Liatris, and iris since they are more vertical and will contrast with the low and crawling nature of the Lady’s Mantle.3

How To Stop Lady’s Mantle Disease and Prevent Pests

Lady’s Mantle are resilient plants and don’t often have disease, however, Lady’s Mantle disease prevention is still important to learn, mainly to avoid issues like root rot. Prevention of these conditions just requires mindful watering.

Top shot of a dense Lady's Mantle plant showing leaves with lobes and serrated edges, situated in a community garden in Poland.

(Image: Salicyna19)

Be sure to not overwater your Lady’s Mantle to avoid root rot; if you start to see the leaves changing to yellow or brown and wilting it may be an indication that it may have struck. This means overhauling the soil and cutting back the affected roots, leaves and stems.16

For best results, ensure you plant your Lady’s Mantle in well-draining soil.

Pest Prevention for Lady’s Mantle Plants

The common pests of the Lady’s Mantle are minimal and usually include pests like aphids and slugs, which are common in gardens with a variety of plants.

Although Lady’s Mantle is mostly resistant to pests, some natural pest control for Lady’s Mantle includes insecticidal soap and ensuring proper distance and breathability between each individual plant.17

Lady’s Mantle Benefits for Health, and Proper Use of the Lady’s Mantle Herb

Other than being a lovely addition to your home garden, the Lady’s Mantle provides benefits for both the garden and the gardener. Long used for medicinal purposes, this plant is beginning to receive the attention it deserves in the science community for its benefits.

Benefits of Lady’s Mantle in the Garden

The benefits of the Lady’s Mantle in your garden go beyond their attractive leaves and the charm they add to your home.

One great reason to grow the Lady’s Mantle in your home garden is that they attract different types of butterflies. Butterflies are beautiful pollinators that can help your garden flourish and add more beauty to it.

Since they can be aggressive spreaders it’s always suggested you remove flower stalks before seeding so they can stay beneficial and not become a nuisance.

Benefits of Lady’s Mantle for Human Health

The name Lady’s Mantle comes from not only the shape of the leaves but also the purposes it served for women’s reproductive health in the past. The plant was used to treat wounds, rashes, stomach ailments, and inflammation in folk medicine.

Its most famous use is in the regulation of menstruation and symptoms of menopause,13 and is believed to assist in boosting uterine health. The plant has many antioxidant and anticancer properties and is now being studied for its possible effects on stunting or limiting tumor growth.14,15

Lady’s Mantle is taken in the form of tinctures, powders, and tea.

With its many uses benefiting both human surroundings and health, the Lady’s Mantle might just be the perfect ground cover to add in your home garden.


References

1N.C. Cooperative Extension. (2024). Alchemilla mollis. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from <https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/alchemilla-mollis/>

2Hassani, N. (2023, May 19). How to Plant and Grow Lady’s Mantle. Better Homes & Gardens. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from <https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/ladys-mantle/>

3Mahr, S. (2024). Lady’s Mantle, Alchemilla mollis. Wisconsin Horticulture. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from <https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/ladys-mantle-alchemilla-mollis/>

4Wikipedia. (2022, September 18). Alchemilla alpina. Wikipedia. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemilla_alpina>

5Wikipedia. (2024, February 1). Alchemilla erythropoda. Wikipedia. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemilla_erythropoda>

6Native Plant Trust. (2024). Alchemilla monticola — hairy lady’s-mantle. Go Botany Native Plant Trust. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from <https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/alchemilla/monticola/>

7U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2024). Classification for Kingdom Plantae Down to Genus Alchemilla L. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from <https://plants.usda.gov/home/classification/88626>

8Swallowtail Garden Seeds. (2024). Lady’s Mantle Seeds. Swallowtail Garden Seeds. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from <https://www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com/perennials/ladys-mantle.html>

9Kansas State University. (2018, August). Perennial. Johnson County Extension Office. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from <https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/docs/lawn-and-garden/in-house-publications/perennials/Perennials%20List%20-%20REVISED.pdf>

10Iannotti, M. (2022, May 1). How to Grow and Care for Lady’s Mantle. The Spruce. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from <https://www.thespruce.com/growing-ladys-mantle-alchemilla-mollis-in-the-garden-1402716>

11Gardenia.net. (2024). https://www.gardenia.net/plant/alchemilla-mollis. Gardenia. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from <https://www.gardenia.net/plant/alchemilla-mollis>

12Tilley, N. (2023, January 24). How To Grow Lady’s Mantle And Lady’s Mantle Care. Gardening Know How. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from <https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/ladys-mantle/grow-ladys-mantle.htm>

13Indigo Herb. (2024). Lady’s Mantle Benefits. Indigo Herbs. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from <https://www.indigo-herbs.co.uk/natural-health-guide/benefits/ladys-mantle>

14Vlaisavljević, S., Jelača, S., Zengin, G., Mimica-Dukić, N., Berežni, S., Miljić, M., & Stevanović, Z. D. (2019, November 18). Alchemilla vulgaris agg. (Lady’s mantle) from central Balkan: antioxidant, anticancer and enzyme inhibition properties. RSC Advances, 9(64), 37474–37483. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9075513/>

15Jelača, S., Dajić-Stevanović, Z., Vuković, N., Kolašinac, S., Trendafilova, A., Nedialkov, P., Stanković, M., Tanić, N., Tanić, N. T., Mijatović, S., & Maksimović-Ivanić, D. (2022, November 22). Beyond Traditional Use of Alchemilla vulgaris: Genoprotective and Antitumor Activity In Vitro. Molecules, 27(23), 8113. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9740270/>

16Rankel, K. (2024, March 9). Diagnosing Lady’s Mantle Root Rot. Greg. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from <https://greg.app/ladys-mantle-root-rot/>

17Country Home And Blooms. (2023, July 18). Lady’s mantle: A perennial plant with alchemical secrets. Country Home & Blooms Country Home & Blooms. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from <https://countryhomeandblooms.com/ladys-mantle-a-perennial-plant-with-alchemical-secrets/>

18Lady’s Mantle Photo by F. D. Richards. (2013, May 29) / CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED | Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic. Cropped and changed file format. Flickr. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from <https://www.flickr.com/photos/50697352@N00/8880171827/>

19Alchemilla mollis 2018-05-05 1094 Photo by Salicyna. (2018, May 5) / CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED | Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International. Resized and changed file format. Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alchemilla_mollis_2018-05-05_1094.jpg>

20Photo 150331192 (Faeroeic Lady’s-Mantle (Alchemilla faeroensis)) Photo by Alan Weakley. (2021, August 8) / CC0 1.0 DEED | CC0 1.0 Universal. Cropped and remixed with image, text, shape, and background elements. iNaturalist UK. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from <https://uk.inaturalist.org/photos/150331192>