Methods on how to grow and care for Lady's Mantle plant

This particular plant called Lady’s mantle is really an interesting plant you can add to your garden, most especially in shady borders. Lady’s mantle is also commonly used as a ground cover and it also makes a nice edging when kept in bounds. Also you can find this plant in wreaths and bouquets as well, either freshly cut or dried.

Furthermore, this plant called Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis or Alchemilla vulgaris) is really an attractive perennial plant. The plant soft gray-green foliage is semi-round with scalloped-shaped leaves. During late spring and early summer, Lady’s mantle produces nearly inconspicuous chartreuse (yellow-green) blooms. Lady’s mantle is a Turkey and Carpathian Mountain native and is also a low-growing ground cover, that can reach about six to twelve inches (15-30 cm.) tall, and in addition to its attractive looks, the plant has an interesting background. Lady’s mantle common name is said to have likely come from an ancient legend of it being used to adorn the Virgin Mary, which also as her cloak was thought to resemble its scalloped leaves. Lady’s mantle plant was once a popular medicinal herb, the root and leaves of lady’s mantle plant were both harvested in midsummer and were also used as poultices for bruises and wound healing. This plant tea is used for easing menstrual pain in women as well.  

Steps on how to grow Lady’s Mantle plant

This plant is very easy to grow. Actually, Lady’s mantle grows well in regions with cool summers and moist, with fertile soil and is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 3-7. Lady’s mantle can tolerate full sun, this plant performs better in shade when grown in warmer regions. Make sure you allow plenty of growing room for these plants, and also space them about eight to twelve inches (20-30 cm.) apart. Make sure individual plants are planted at the same depth as their current container, and it is also helpful to add a little fertilizer or compost to the bottom of the planting hole, and then water it generously afterward. This plant can also be sown outdoors after all danger of frost has passed. The plant may require cold stratification in order to germinate more easily. Make sure the seeds are barely covered with soil and well watered. If like you can also start them indoors 4 to 6 weeks prior to planting out. Under normal condition it takes about 3 to 4 weeks for them to germinate.

How to care for Lady’s Mantle

From my own little experience there is not much involved with caring for lady’s mantle. This plant is a very carefree plant and doesn’t require any special attention or fertilizing. The major thing that is required is regular watering when the plant is located in full sun or during times of extreme heat, this will be enough to moisten the soil. Lady’s mantle does not like to be waterlogged. Also warm regions that really experience high humidity may have issues with fungal problems, most especially if the crown is kept damp. Actually, providing adequate air circulation and allowing the soil to slightly dry out some is one of remedy to it. This plant is prone to reseeding and it can become mildly aggressive in some areas, so deadheading the flowers as they start to dry will be helpful in preventing it from spreading into unwanted parts of the garden. The plant foliage remains semi-evergreen throughout winter, make sure you remove older leaves as they brown.