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Common Lady's-mantle

Alchemilla vulgaris

Alchemilla vulgaris Alchemilla vulgaris

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Contents

Plant Profile

Flowering Months:
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC
Order:
Rosales
Family:
Rosaceae (Rose)
Also in this family:
Acute Leaf-lobed Lady's-mantle, Alpine Cinquefoil, Alpine Lady's-mantle, Ampfield Cotoneaster, Arran Service Tree, Arran Whitebeam, Barren Strawberry, Bastard Agrimony, Bastard Service Tree, Bearberry Cotoneaster, Bird Cherry, Blackthorn, Bloody Whitebeam, Bramble, Bristol Whitebeam, Broad-leaved Whitebeam, Broadtooth Lady's-mantle, Bronze Pirri-pirri-bur, Bullace Plum, Bullate Cotoneaster, Burnet Rose, Catacol Whitebeam, Caucasian Lady's-mantle, Cheddar Whitebeam, Cherry Laurel, Cherry Plum, Chinese Photinia, Cloudberry, Clustered Lady's-mantle, Common Agrimony, Common Hawthorn, Common Medlar, Common Ninebark, Common Whitebeam, Crab Apple, Creeping Chinese Bramble, Creeping Cinquefoil, Crimean Lady's-mantle, Cultivated Apple, Cultivated Pear, Cut-leaved Blackberry, Damson, Devon Whitebeam, Dewberry, Diel's Cotoneaster, Dog Rose, Doward Whitebeam, Dropwort, Elm-leaved Bramble, English Whitebeam, Entire-leaved Cotoneaster, False Salmonberry, Field Rose, Firethorn, Fodder Burnet, Fragrant Agrimony, Franchet's Cotoneaster, Garden Lady's-mantle, Garden Strawberry, Giant Meadowsweet, Glaucous Dog Rose, Goatsbeard Spiraea, Gough's Rock Whitebeam, Great Burnet, Greengage Plum, Grey-leaved Whitebeam, Hairless Lady's-mantle, Hairy Lady's-mantle, Hautbois Strawberry, Himalayan Blackberry, Himalayan Cotoneaster, Himalayan Whitebeam, Hoary Cinquefoil, Hollyberry Cotoneaster, Hupeh Rowan, Hybrid Cinquefoil, Hybrid Geum, Irish Whitebeam, Japanese Cherry, Japanese Quince, Japanese Rose, Jew's Mallow, Juneberry, Lancaster Whitebeam, Late Cotoneaster, Least Lady's-mantle, Least Whitebeam, Leigh Woods Whitebeam, Ley's Whitebeam, Liljefor's Whitebeam, Littleleaf Cotoneaster, Llangollen Whitebeam, Llanthony Whitebeam, Lleyn Cotoneaster, Loganberry, Many-flowered Rose, Margaret's Whitebeam, Marsh Cinquefoil, Meadowsweet, Midland Hawthorn, Mougeot's Whitebeam, Mountain Ash, Mountain Avens, Mountain Sibbaldia, Moupin's Cotoneaster, No Parking Whitebeam, Ocean Spray, Orange Whitebeam, Pale Bridewort, Pale Lady's-mantle, Parsley Piert, Pirri-pirri-bur, Plymouth Pear, Portuguese Laurel, Purple-flowered Raspberry, Quince, Raspberry, Rock Cinquefoil, Rock Lady's-mantle, Rock Whitebeam, Round-leaved Dog Rose, Round-leaved Whitebeam, Rum Cherry, Russian Cinquefoil, Salad Burnet, Sargent's Rowan, Scannell's Whitebeam, Service Tree, Sharp-toothed Whitebeam, Sherard's Downy Rose, Shining Lady's-mantle, Ship Rock Whitebeam, Short-styled Rose, Shrubby Cinquefoil, Silver Lady's-mantle, Silverweed, Slender Parsley Piert, Slender-spined Bramble, Small-flowered Sweetbriar, Small-leaved Sweetbriar, Soft Downy Rose, Somerset Whitebeam, Sorbaria, Sour Cherry, Southern Downy Rose, Southern Lady's-mantle, Spineless Acaena, Spring Cinquefoil, St. Lucie's Cherry, Steeplebush, Stern's Cotoneaster, Stirton's Whitebeam, Stone Bramble, Sulphur Cinquefoil, Swedish Service Tree, Swedish Whitebeam, Sweet Briar, Symond's Yat Whitebeam, Tengyueh Cotoneaster, Thimbleberry, Thin-leaved Whitebeam, Tibetan Cotoneaster, Tormentil, Trailing Tormentil, Tree Cotoneaster, Trefoil Cinquefoil, Twin-cliffs Whitebeam, Two-spined Acaena, Wall Cotoneaster, Water Avens, Waterer's Cotoneaster, Waxy Lady's-mantle, Welsh Cotoneaster, Welsh Whitebeam, White Burnet, White's Whitebeam, White-stemmed Bramble, Wild Cherry, Wild Pear, Wild Plum, Wild Service Tree, Wild Strawberry, Willmott's Whitebeam, Willow-leaved Bridewort, Willow-leaved Cotoneaster, Wineberry, Wood Avens, Wye Whitebeam, Yellow-flowered Strawberry
Type:
Flower
Life Cycle:
Perennial
Maximum Size:
50 centimetres tall
Habitats:
Ditches, gardens, grassland, meadows, mountains, parks, riversides, roadsides, wasteland, waterside, woodland.

Flower:
֍
Yellow, no petals
 
Tiny petalless flowers clustered together loosely with 4 yellowish-green sepals and yellow anthers.
Fruit:
A small and insignificant, dry achene.
Leaves:
The pale green, long-stalked, scallop-shaped leaves are soft and hairy. The size of the leaves vary depending on the exact species.
Other Names:
Bear's Foot, Dew-cup, Lady's Mantle, Lion's Foot, Nine Hooks, Our Lady's Mantle.
Frequency (UK):
Common  

Similar Species

Garden Lady's-mantle
Garden Lady's-mantle

Other Information

Summary

Alchemilla vulgaris, commonly known as lady's mantle, is a perennial herb native to Europe and Asia. It is a low-growing plant that typically reaches a height of 50 cm and spreads through its creeping rhizomes. The leaves are basal, lobed, and have a scalloped margin, typically reaching 5-15 cm (2-6 inches) long. The flowers are small, yellow-green and arranged in large clusters on tall stems, typically blooming from June to August. The plant is known for its characteristic round, water-repellent leaf rosettes, which are often used in floral arrangements. It prefers moist, well-drained soils in partial shade, but it can tolerate a wide range of soil and light conditions. It is commonly found in woodlands, meadows, and along streams. Historically, it has been used in traditional medicine, specifically for its astringent properties.

Blog

Common Lady's-mantle, or Alchemilla vulgaris, is a beautiful herbaceous plant that belongs to the Rosaceae family. This plant is native to Europe, Asia, and North America, and is known for its unique foliage and medicinal properties. In this blog post, we'll explore the characteristics, uses, and growing tips of this fascinating plant.

Characteristics

Common Lady's-mantle is a perennial plant that typically grows to a height of 30-50cm. The leaves of this plant are the most distinctive feature, as they have a unique shape that resembles the palm of a hand. The leaves are deeply lobed, and the edges are slightly toothed. The leaves are also covered in fine hairs that give them a velvety texture.

The flowers of Common Lady's-mantle are small and yellow-green in color. They bloom in late spring to early summer and are held in clusters above the foliage. The flowers are not showy, but they are attractive to pollinators, such as bees and butterflies.

Uses

Common Lady's-mantle has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties. The plant contains tannins, which have astringent properties and can help to reduce inflammation and promote healing. The plant has been used to treat a variety of ailments, including diarrhea, menstrual cramps, and skin irritations.

In addition to its medicinal properties, Common Lady's-mantle is also a popular ornamental plant. The unique foliage and delicate flowers make it a great addition to any garden. The plant is also used in flower arrangements, where it adds a soft texture and a delicate touch.

Growing Tips

Common Lady's-mantle is an easy plant to grow and care for. It prefers a well-drained soil and partial shade, but it can also tolerate full sun. The plant does best in moist, cool environments and can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 3-8.

To grow Common Lady's-mantle, start by preparing the soil. The plant prefers a soil pH between 5.5 and 7.0. Amend the soil with compost or well-rotted manure to improve drainage and add nutrients. Plant the seeds in the spring, or divide established plants in the fall.

Once planted, Common Lady's-mantle requires little maintenance. The plant should be watered regularly, especially during dry spells, to keep the soil moist. Deadhead the flowers to encourage continued blooming and remove any dead or damaged foliage to keep the plant looking tidy.

Common Lady's-mantle is a fascinating plant that offers both medicinal and ornamental benefits. Its unique foliage and delicate flowers make it a great addition to any garden, and its medicinal properties make it a valuable herb. With proper care, this plant is easy to grow and maintain, and it will reward you with its beauty and usefulness.

Further Information

Common Lady's-mantle has a rich history of use in traditional medicine. It was believed to have magical properties and was used to treat a variety of ailments, including stomach disorders, fever, and wounds. In medieval times, it was also believed to have the ability to turn base metals into gold, and alchemists would use it in their experiments.

In addition to its medicinal uses, Common Lady's-mantle has also been used for culinary purposes. The young leaves can be used in salads or cooked like spinach, and the dried leaves have been used to flavor tea.

Common Lady's-mantle is also a popular plant in folklore and mythology. In some cultures, it is believed to have protective properties and is used in rituals to ward off evil spirits. In other cultures, it is associated with the moon and is said to have the power to attract wealth and prosperity.

One interesting fact about Common Lady's-mantle is that the leaves are hydrophobic, meaning that they repel water. This property has led to the plant being used in herbal medicine to treat excess sweating and as a natural deodorant.

In terms of cultivation, Common Lady's-mantle is a great plant for gardeners who are looking for low-maintenance plants. It is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions and can even grow in poor soil. It is also resistant to pests and diseases and does not require much pruning.

One interesting aspect of Common Lady's-mantle is the way that raindrops collect on its leaves. The fine hairs on the leaves cause water droplets to bead up, creating a stunning display of water droplets that seem to shimmer in the sunlight. This effect has led to the plant being nicknamed "dew cups" or "fairy chalices" in some cultures.

Another unique feature of Common Lady's-mantle is the way that the plant's leaves change color throughout the growing season. When the leaves first emerge in the spring, they are a bright green color. As the season progresses, the leaves turn a bluish-green color and may develop a slight reddish tinge in the fall. This color change adds interest and depth to the plant's foliage and makes it a great choice for adding texture to a garden.

If you are interested in growing Common Lady's-mantle, there are several cultivars available that offer different leaf shapes and colors. For example, Alchemilla vulgaris 'Thriller' has deeply cut leaves with serrated edges, while Alchemilla vulgaris 'Lady's Mantle' has a more traditional leaf shape with a smooth edge.

Overall, Common Lady's-mantle is a versatile plant that offers a range of benefits for gardeners and herbalists alike. Whether you are looking for a low-maintenance ornamental plant or a natural remedy for common ailments, this plant is sure to please. With its unique foliage, delicate flowers, and interesting folklore, it is a plant that is sure to capture your imagination and add beauty to your garden.