Element: Water
Planet: Saturn
Energy: Feminine/Receptive
Properties: Love
Folk names: Bear's Foot, Leontopodium, Lion's Foot, Nine Hooks, Stellaria
Botanical Name: Alchemilla vulgaris
Lady's Mantle is an herbaceous perennial that originated in the Eastern Carpathians and the Caucasus. It is a member of the rose family (Rosaceae). The genus name, Alchemilla, may be a Latinized form of an Arabic word. The species name, mollis, means soft which is an accurate description of the leaves of this plant. They are soft and downy, up to 6 inches wide, circular in shape with 9 to 11 shallow lobes. The color is a soft pale green. They form a dense mound up to 12 inches high and wide. In June the plant carries bunches (compound cymes) of starry, chartreuse flowers reaching as high as 18 inches.
The flowers do set seed and self-seeding can be a problem if it is growing in optimum conditions. Trimming the dead flowers will tidy the plant, encourage new growth, and reduce the seeding problem. The plant will spread into a dense cover and the simplest way of propagating it is through division in the spring or autumn.
Lady's Mantle does well in all types of soil as long as there is moisture and has no real preference for acidic or alkaline soils. It can grow in full sun, part shade, and shade making it perfect for underplanting shrubs and trees. In drier areas, the leaves may scorch in full sun. Aside from an occasional haircut, it requires very little care.
One of the most endearing traits is the way the leaves hold water in near perfect droplets after a rainstorm. Lady's Mantle tolerates rabbits and deer.
Lady's Mantle is perfect for a massed ground cover. It can be grown for cutting and drying and is the archetypical cottage garden plant.
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We make no actual claims nor guarantee any supernatural, magical, or medicinal qualities for any product. The names and alleged powers are gathered from books, folklore, and various occult sources. Not evaluated by the FDA.
