Little Care with Lady’s Mantle

​Alchemilla mollis or Lady’s Mantle requires little care, a requirement for my garden.   It is a non-native from the eastern European mountains and is hardy in my zone 3 garden.  Not often featured in garden books, Lady’s Mantle is also overlooked for perennial gardens. 
 
This time of year I appreciate its froths (yes, that is the description all the books and websites give the blooms) of tiny chartreuse leaves. They are a colorful filler in the perennial beds as well as floral arrangements.   They can be used as a dried flower for fall bouquets.  Before blooming the velvety gray-green leaves are especially attractive after a rainfall. 
 

​This plant is described as a ground cover even though it stands about a foot tall.  It makes a nice border or woodland edge plant and can cover the ground without being aggressive.  I like that it self-seeds when I let the flowers dry in the beds, the tiny plants are easy enough to pull out if they end up planting themselves where I don’t want them.  If you would prefer to avoid volunteers, deadhead after the blooms turn brown.  
 
It does well in part shade to sun but the leaves can scorch with a combination of full sun and dry conditions.  Other than deadheading when it encroaches on other plants, this one requires little care.  The plants over-winter best if they are not cut back in the fall.  I do my clean-up in the spring by cutting back the dead leaves careful to not harm the root crown of the plant.  
 
An added bonus, it is deer and rabbit resistant.  If you can’t find it in the garden center, just ask a friend who has one and I’m sure they will be happy to share their volunteers.