Alpine Lady's-mantle (Alchemilla alpina) Growing & Care Guide for Gardenersn
Article by Dean Ravenscroft, Ph.D. - Updated 31st Jan 2024
- Plant Characteristics: Alchemilla alpina is a charming perennial known for its scalloped, gray-green leaves and airy sprays of tiny, star-shaped yellowish-green flowers. It's prized for its delicate foliage and the way dewdrops collect on the leaves.
- Growing & Care: Thrives in well-drained, moist soil and partial shade. It's a low-maintenance plant that can tolerate cooler climates and is resistant to most pests and diseases. Regular deadheading can promote more flowering.
- Tips for New Gardeners: Ideal for beginners due to its ease of care and hardiness. Perfect for rock gardens, borders, and underplanting beneath taller plants. Be aware of its spreading habit; it can self-seed in favorable conditions.
Alchemilla alpina, commonly known as Alpine Lady's Mantle, is an easy to care for plant that is typically used as a ground-cover or edging plant.
As the common name suggests it is native to mountainous regions where it can often be seen in highland meadows and moorland.
Alchemilla-alpina leaves and buds closeup photograph by Babij; CC.
It grows well in US Zones 4 to 7, and so should survive to temperatures as low as -35°C (-30°F). This will make it hardy in the UK to RHS zone H7.
Alchemilla alpina L. photograph by Udo Schmidt.
Alpine Lady's-mantle is a low profile plant that can reach from 3 to 8 inches (8 to 20 cm) in height, with pale green leaves and silver edges.
In summer, small sprays of chartreuse flowers bloom atop weak stems. Sometimes called "Mountain Mantle," it can spread to about twelve inches (30 cm) wide.
Botanical drawing of Alchemilla alpina (Alpine Lady's Mantle), image sourced by Biodiversity Heritage Library; CC.
Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing Alpine Lady's Mantle
Alchemilla alpina does well in average soil that is well-drained and is an especially good plant for rock gardens.
Alchemilla alpina does well in average soil that is well-drained and is an especially good plant for rock gardens.
Alchemilla alpina does well in most zones, requires only average watering, and is generally disease- and pest-free.
This plant is a perennial that likes moist soil. It does well in full sun or partial shade.
Mountain Mantle does best in outdoor gardens, but can also thrive in patio containers or planters. Because it does so well as a cold hardy ground-cover plant, it is not generally used as an indoor plant.
Alchemilla alpina is mostly low maintenance and needs very little in the way of soil preparation or location considerations.
Many people use it in rock or gravel gardens, as an edging plant, or even under shrubs since it tolerates both full sun and partial shade.
Because it does not need any special considerations for water or soil, it can go almost anywhere in a garden or wherever ground cover is needed.
Close up of Alpine Lady's Mantle yellow flowers, image by Brian Gratwicke; CC.
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Alchemilla alpina Growing and Care Guide
- Scientific Name: Alchemilla alpina.
- Common Name: Alpine Lady's-mantle.
- Growing Zone: USA: 3 but 4 to 7 for best results; UK H7.
- Life Cycle / Plant Type: Perennial.
Plant Details
- Plant Height (Inches): 6 to 8.
- Plant Spread (Inches): 0 to 21.
- Time of Bloom: Mid summer.
- Flower Details: Green, Yellow.
- Leaf Foliage: Green.
- Fruit:
- Growth Form: Rounded, Spreading or horizontal.
Ideal Growing Conditions
- Best Light Conditions: Shady to full sunlight.
- Rate of Growth: Average pace.
- Suitable Soil Types: Acidic, Loamy, Sandy, Well drained.
- Soil Moisture: Moist.
Caring Conditions
- Care:
- Level of Maintenance:
- Propagation: Sow Seeds in containers in spring.
- How to Prune:
- Pests: slugs, snails.
- Diseases:
Further Information
- Can Attract:
- Tolerant of:
- Best Garden Use: Alpine garden, Border, Container, Ground cover, Rock garden.
- Family: Rosaceae.
- Closely Related Species: Roses (Rosa), Prunus, Aronia, Aruncus, Pyrus, Sanguisorba, Sorbus, Acaena, Crataegus, Rubus, and Waldstenia.
- Miscellaneous: Attractive foliage, Non-native to North America, Suitable for cut flowers, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.
- Genus Detail: Alchemilla.
- Further Reading and References: Here and Here.
I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Alchemilla alpina. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow Waldsteinia ternata and Rosa multiflora plants.
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