Lady’s mantle

Lady’s mantle: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Broad, low clump of leaves about 30 cm high, with flowers to 50 cm; 60 cm wide.

Leaves

Rounded, shallowly lobed, with a wavy, toothed edge; softly hairy and water-repellent.

Flowers

Loose sprays of tiny lime-green flowers without petals, in June–August.

Seed

Sets plenty of seed and self-sows freely if you leave the flowers on.

Roots

A sturdy, woody rootstock that slowly forms a wider clump.

Flowering: June–August · Plants: March–May and September–October · Pruning: March and July

Why grow it?

• One of the best fillers and ground covers for border edges and along paths.
• Lime-green clouds of flowers in June–August that go with almost any colour.
• The soft leaves beaded with water droplets are an ornament in themselves.
• Much loved for cutting: the flowers add lightness to any bouquet.
• Easy and hardy; after cutting back, fresh leaves soon appear.

Lady’s mantle: where does it grow best?

• Sun or partial shade; in hot, dry sun the leaves scorch more easily.
• Ordinary garden soil: sand, loam or clay, acid to chalky.
• Moist to damp; it needs water during prolonged drought.
• Space 40–50 cm apart; along a path the leaves may spill over the edge.

Light

Sun and partial shade

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal or wet

Size

0.5 m tall, 0.6 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -30 °C)

Goes well with

• Roses: A classic: the lime green suits every rose colour and hides the bare base.
• Cranesbill: Blue or purple beside the lime green, in the same sun or partial shade.
• Catmint: Lavender-blue mounds beside the soft lime-green clouds.
• Ornamental onion: Purple globes above the low clumps.
• Daylily: Bright colours that stand out against the calm lime green.

Lady’s mantle: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–May and September–October.

1. Plant in March–May or September–October.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the pot and mix in a little compost.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as in the pot.
4. Space plants 40–50 cm apart; a little closer as an edging along a path.
5. Firm in and water well straight away.
6. Keep the soil moist for the first few weeks, especially in sun.

Care

Watering

In dry spells, especially in full sun or on sandy soil: the leaves soon droop.

Feeding

Rarely needed; a little compost in spring is enough.

Mulching

A thin layer of compost in March keeps the soil moist.

Deadheading

Remove the flowers before they set seed, or cut the whole plant back after the first flush.

Cutting

Cut the stems when the flowers have just opened; they last well in a vase and dry well too.

Tip: After the first flush, cut everything back to the ground and water: within a few weeks you will have fresh leaves, and you stop it self-sowing everywhere.

Lady’s mantle: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March and July.

When: After the first flush, usually in July, cut everything back. In March, remove the old, withered leaves.

How:

• After the first flush, cut all flower stems and leaves back to just above the ground.
• Water afterwards: within a few weeks a new clump of fresh leaves appears.
• A small second flush sometimes follows in August–September.
• In March, clear the dead leaves before the new ones emerge.

Caution: If you let the flowers set seed, seedlings will pop up everywhere the following year.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division

In March–April or September–October: cut the clump with a spade into pieces, each with a few buds and roots.

Self-sown seedlings

Seedlings that come up by themselves can be moved with a root ball in spring. They are identical to the parent.

Lady’s mantle: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −30 °C.

• Very hardy, to about −30 °C: no protection is needed in Belgium.
• It largely dies back and regrows in March–April.
• In a pot or trough it copes well with frost; do not let the compost dry out completely.

Diseases and pests

• Seedlings everywhere: It self-sows freely, even in paving cracks and among other plants. Cut the flowers off before they set seed.
• Untidy clump: After flowering it falls open and the leaves turn brown. Cut everything back to the ground.
• Leaf scorch: Brown, dry leaves in hot, dry sun. Water, or move it into partial shade.
• Powdery mildew: White powder on the leaves in dry weather. Cutting back and watering helps.

Through the year

• March: Remove old leaves. Give compost.
• April: Plant or divide. Move self-sown seedlings.
• May: The leaves are at their best. Planting is still possible.
• June: Flowering begins. Cut flowers for bouquets.
• July: After the first flush, cut everything back. Water.
• August: Fresh leaves, sometimes a small second flush. Water in dry spells.
• September: Plant or divide.
• October: Plant. The leaves begin to die back.
• November: Rest.

Did you know?

• The name is said to refer to alchemists, who regarded the drops on its leaves as especially pure water.
• The drops along the leaf edge in the morning are often not dew: the plant pushes out water itself through tiny pores at the leaf margin.
• Lady’s mantle sets seed without pollination, so its seedlings are identical to the parent.