Alchemilla alpina

The Achemilla alpina, the alpine lady's mantle is a perennial plant that forms a spreading cushion in rocky meadows. It is highly cold-resistant and easy to cultivate. It is perfect for greening slopes or walls.

The Achemilla alpina forms a cushion of spreading stems, 10 to 20cm (4 to 8in) tall, and bears clusters of palmate leaves that are glossy on top and silky and silver underneath. The greenish-yellow flowers appear in dense clusters, slightly raised above the foliage, between May and August.

An ideal plant for rockeries, pavements or walls, it thrives in various well-drained soils and prefers partial shade; in full sun, its foliage is not at its best. You can associate it with other rockery plants such as bellflowers, moss phlox or sedums.

The alpine lady's mantle is known for its numerous medicinal properties. The botanical name, Alchemilla, is believed to come from the term "alchemy": some species have receptacle-shaped leaves capable of collecting dew (the "celestial water"), which, according to some authors, is a secretion of the plant. These generous plants with "celestial water" were dedicated to alchemists by botanists.