Alpine Lady’s Mantle

(Alchemilla alpina)

Alpine Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla alpina)

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Estimated Native Range
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Summary

Alchemilla alpina, commonly known as Alpine Lady’s Mantle, is a deciduous perennial herb native to alpine and subalpine zones in Northern Europe, including Scandinavia, and extending to the Mediterranean mountains. It thrives in moist, well-drained soils in mountainous regions, often found in rocky crevices and grassy slopes. Alpine Lady’s Mantle typically grows to a height of 5 to 20 cm (2 to 8 inches) and features a basal rosette of palmately lobed, soft-hairy leaves that collect dewdrops, creating a decorative effect.

The plant is valued for its lime-green, star-shaped flowers with four conspicuous sepals, which appear from June to September, adding a subtle charm to garden settings. The lack of true petals is compensated by the sepals’ attractiveness to pollinators. Alpine Lady’s Mantle is a popular choice for rock gardens, as ground cover, and in borders due to its low maintenance and ability to spread, forming a dense mat. It prefers partial shade to full sun and requires moderate watering, especially in drier conditions. While it is generally pest-free, it can suffer from leaf spot diseases in overly wet conditions. Alpine Lady’s Mantle is also used in traditional medicine for its astringent properties.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Herb
  • Height: 0.7-0.8 feet
  • Width: 0.875-1 feet
  • Growth Rate: Moderate
  • Flower Color: Green, Yellow
  • Flowering Season: Summer
  • Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Water: Medium
  • Drainage: Slow, Medium, Fast

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Border Plant, Deer Resistant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Erosion Control, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant, Rock Garden

Natural Habitat

Alpine and subalpine zones in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean mountains

Other Names

Common Names: Alpine Lady’s-Mantle, Bjerg-Løvefod, Alpen-Frauenmantel, Tunturipoimulehti, Alchémille Des Alpes, Fjellmarikåpe, Fjällkåpa

Scientific Names: , Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla alpina subsp. alpina, Alchemilla alpina subsp. glomerata, Alchemilla glomerata, Alchemilla viridicans, Alchemilla alpina var. burnatiana, Alchemilla anisiana, Alchemilla argentea, Alchemilla alpina var. angustifolia

GBIF Accepted Name: Alchemilla alpina L.