Alchemilla 'Irish Silk' (Lady's Mantle) – Hardy Perennial (Set of 3 or 6)

Alchemilla is lady's mantle, grown for frothy sprays of tiny flowers above softly scalloped leaves.

The flowers rise in a light haze from late spring through summer over neat mounds of pleated foliage that holds raindrops after a shower. Plants reach around 35 to 45cm tall and 40 to 50cm across and knit together into good ground cover along a path or at the front of a border.

It grows in sun, partial shade or deep shade, where it flowers less freely but the foliage still looks well, and it takes coastal wind without complaint. Give it fertile soil that stays moist but drains, or a container you can keep watered. Bees work the flowers and the sprays cut well fresh. It seeds itself very freely, so cut the flowers back before the seed ripens unless you want seedlings everywhere.

Supplied as three or six garden ready plants, each with an established 1 litre root ball.

Cultural Information

• Common Name: Lady's mantle
• Fully Grown Height and Spread: Approximately 35 to 45cm x 40 to 50cm
• Growth Habit: Low, mounded and clump forming
• Perfect For: Border edges, ground cover, path sides, containers, cottage and country planting, cutting
• Foliage: Softly textured, scalloped green leaves
• Flowering Time: Late spring through summer
• Planting Position: Full sun, partial shade or full shade, including containers and coastal gardens
• Soil Type: Fertile, moist but free draining
• Hardiness: Fully hardy, dying back in winter and returning every spring
• Maintenance: Low. Cut back after flowering to limit self seeding
• Seasonal Interest: Spring and summer
• Type: Hardy herbaceous perennial