Dwarf Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla erythropoda) Growing & Care Guide for Gardeners
Article by Dean Ravenscroft, Ph.D. - Updated 31st Jan 2024
- Plant Characteristics: Alchemilla erythropoda is a compact perennial with charming scalloped, gray-green leaves and small, bright yellow-green flowers. It's perfect for adding texture and soft color to garden edges and rockeries.
- Growing & Care: Prefers partial shade to full sun and well-drained soil. It's drought-tolerant once established and requires minimal care. Deadheading spent flowers encourages a second bloom and prevents excessive self-seeding.
- Tips for New Gardeners: Great for novice gardeners due to its undemanding nature and versatility. Ideal for small spaces or as a ground cover. Regular watering during dry periods will keep it looking its best.
Alchemilla erythropoda is a low growing perennial, commonly known as Dwarf Lady's Mantle.
This delicate, blue green, round leaved plant is charming because the leaves catch and hold raindrops. It grows up to 5 inches (12.5 cm) tall and 2 feet (60 cm) wide.
Alchemilla erythropoda plant photograph by Leonora (Ellie) Enking.
Due to its small size, Alchemilla erythropoda is best planted along the edge of small gardens or underneath trees and shrubs. It can also be planted in potted rock gardens.
This plant belongs to the rosaceae family. During spring and summer, it will bloom with yellow flowers that fade to red as the season goes on. It adds a beautiful color to fill in small spaces and cover the ground.
Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing Dwarf Lady's Mantle
The Alchemilla erythropoda plant can grow in many soil types as long as it is moist and well-drained soil that receives full sun or part shade.
This plant thrives in USDA zones 3-8 / UK hardiness H7.
Dwarf Lady's Mantle is fairly easy to grow and maintain as long as it receives adequate sun and moisture.
After this plant has flowered, the flowers will fade to a dark red color. This means they have finished flowering and can be trimmed off.
Dwarf Lady's Mantle (background), photograph by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz; CC.
To encourage new foliage to grow in late summer, water with plant food after trimming back the spent flowers and untidy foliage.
The flowers can also be dried and used for different craft projects.
To propagate this plant, either plant seeds in pots in spring or split by division in autumn.
Alchemilla erythropoda leaves photograph by Leonora (Ellie) Enking; CC.
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Alchemilla erythropoda Growing and Care Guide
- Scientific Name: Alchemilla erythropoda.
- Common Name: Dwarf Lady's Mantle.
- Growing Zone: USA: 3 to 8; UK H7.
- Life Cycle / Plant Type: Perennial.
Plant Details
- Plant Height (Inches): 9 to 12.
- Plant Spread (Inches): 0 to 9.
- Time of Bloom: Summer.
- Flower Details: Green.
- Leaf Foliage: Green.
- Fruit:
- Growth Form: Rounded.
Ideal Growing Conditions
- Best Light Conditions: Shady to full sunlight.
- Rate of Growth: Average pace.
- Suitable Soil Types: Loamy, Neutral, Well drained.
- Soil Moisture: Moist.
Caring Conditions
- Care:
- Level of Maintenance: Medium.
- Propagation: Seed in pots in a cold frame in spring or by Division in spring or autumn.
- How to Prune: Once the flowers and foliage become untidy from late summer onwards, shear off and new foliage will appear.
- Pests: Usually pest free.
- Diseases: Usually pest free.
Further Information
- Can Attract:
- Tolerant of: Not generally favored by deers.
- Best Garden Use: Border, Container, Ground cover, Rock garden.
- Family: Rosaceae. The Rose Plant Family
- 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.
- Genus Detail: Alchemilla.
- Further Reading and References: Here.
I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Alchemilla erythropoda. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow Rosa multiflora and Rosa rugosa plants.
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