Alchemilla vulgaris

The Alchemilla vulgaris, also known as common lady's mantle, is a perennial ground cover, easy to cultivate. It is highly polymorphous, varying in height as it adapts to different situations. Its pretty round, soft and serrated leaves, with a strong water-repellent power, disappear from May to August under abundant bouquets of small yellow-green flowers, giving a very light appearance. This wild, ornamental and medicinal plant has a place in all gardens, even the smallest ones. It thrives best in partial shade, in humus-rich and moderately moist soil.

The Alchemilla vulgaris is a herbaceous perennial of the rose family, native to Europe, Siberia, Greenland and Labrador. It forms a carpet-like clump, reaching a height of 8 to 40 cm (3 to 16in) depending on the growing conditions. Its foliage is remarkable, adorned with dewdrops in the morning, and very soft to the touch. The leaves are large and almost circular, with a serrated edge. They are light green on both sides. They are divided into 7 to 12 shallow lobes, and are attached to light green stems tinged with red, more or less hairy. The flowers appear from May to October, in the form of tiny flowers grouped in diffuse corymbose clusters (cloud-like clusters), yellow-green in colour, light and very bright. This perennial is an excellent ground cover that spreads spontaneously and can become invasive (a tip: in August, cut all the foliage of your Alchemilla mollis with shears, new foliage will appear within 15 days).

In nature, lady's mantle grows near woods, in damp pastures, from the plains in the North to the alpine regions of all the mountains in France. In the garden, it will cover the ground, in dappled sunlight or partial shade, harmonising its chartreuse flowering with beautiful English or old-fashioned roses, as well as majestic lilies. This plant has no rival in softening the edges of a newly laid path and hiding the bare soil around recent constructions. It can grow in very little soil, as long as it remains moist, allowing it to be installed in the gaps between paving stones, in the crevices of old walls, or even in the steps of a staircase. Its lime green flowers can be used in fresh or dried bouquets.

Properties:

The Alchemilla vulgaris is a medicinal plant with multiple virtues, its use dating back to the Middle Ages. It was also believed to have the ability to restore some youth and tonicity to not-so-young ladies.

This plant is edible for both humans and livestock, and it seems to give a special taste to milk and cheese from animals that have grazed on it. Its dried leaves can also be used to flavour tea.