Alchemilla mollis Thriller

Alchemilla mollis 'Thriller' is even more decorative than the common lady's mantle, due to its larger development and its beautiful summer flowering in sulphur yellow rather than yellowish-green. It is an adorable ground cover plant with round and pleated leaves, which are extremely decorative with a slightly glaucous aniseed green colour. The leaves unfurl to catch raindrops and dew. As soft to the touch as it is pleasing to the eye, this perennial perfectly complements all the plants that accompany it. It likes moist soil, even if it lacks depth. This hardy plant is sometimes evergreen in winter. In summer, it is covered in a mist of flowers. This plant is beautiful everywhere and remains decorative for a good part of the year.

Alchemilla mollis 'Thriller' is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Rosaceae family. Its ancestor, sometimes called soft alchemilla, originates from Eurasia, from southwest Europe to the Caucasus, from Asia Minor in northern Iran, and to Japan. It prefers moist but well-drained and fertile clay soil, and it enjoys partial shade.

This excellent ground cover spreads spontaneously and self-seeds very easily, to the point of becoming invasive. At maturity, the plant forms a carpet-like clump with a rounded and spreading habit, reaching a height of 40 to 50cm (16 to 20in) and a minimum width of 70 to 80cm (27 to 31in). Its foliage consists of large circular velvety leaves with a diameter of 5 to 10cm (2 to 4in). They are lobed, finely pleated, and toothed at the edges. Their colour is a fairly light green, intermediate between chartreuse and aniseed, and it is slightly bluish or silvery depending on the lighting. They have a strong water-repellent power, which means water can slide off and gather in droplets instead of being spread and absorbed. The foliage is evergreen in areas with mild winters, but will disappear elsewhere.

Flowering takes place in June-July. It takes the form of diffuse corymbiform cymes, like loose cloudy clusters, of a light and very bright sulphur yellow colour. The blooms are delightful in fresh or dried bouquets. It may be useful to remove faded flowers to prevent spontaneous seeding.

In nature, alchemilla grows in rocky and clayey soil in mountains, in high-altitude meadows, and at the edge of forests. It seems difficult not to find a place for it in the garden, as it is robust, adaptable, and easy to grow with all kinds of shrubs or perennial plants. It will cover the ground in full sun or partial shade, harmonising its flowering with beautiful English or old roses, as well as with majestic lilies. This plant has no rival in softening the outline of a recently laid path and hiding the bare soil around new constructions. It can grow in very little soil, as long as it is not too arid, which means it can grow in the gaps of paving stones, the crevices of stone walls, or in the steps of a stone staircase. Alchemilla is also perfect with spring-flowering bulbs or autumn crocuses.

In August, cut all the foliage of your alchemilla mollis with shears, and new foliage will appear within 15 days.

Etymology: the name Alchemilla comes from the Arabic al-kemelih, related to alchemy. The dewdrops collected on the leaves composed the famous 'celestial water', used by alchemists to prepare the philosopher's stone.