Alchemilla Gold Strike

Description

Alchemilla ‘Gold Strike’ – lady’s mantle

Botanical name: Alchemilla mollis ‘Gold Strike’
Common names: Lady’s mantle
Family: Rosaceae (rose family)
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Habit: Clump-forming, mound-forming
Pot size: 2–3 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 40–50cm tall × 50cm spread
Foliage: Soft, rounded, pleated, downy green leaves that hold sparkling water droplets after rain; deciduous
Flowers: Airy sprays of tiny, frothy lime-yellow flowers in early to midsummer (June–August)
Scent: Not notably scented
Aspect / light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Most soils; moist but well-drained; any pH
Hardiness: RHS H7 (very hardy, below −20°C); USDA zones 4–7
Exposure: Sheltered or exposed; very tolerant
Native range: Garden form; the species is native to southern Europe and Asia
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Generally considered non-toxic to people and pets

Alchemilla ‘Gold Strike’ is a classic, easy perennial forming soft mounds of pleated leaves that hold sparkling raindrops, topped by frothy lime-yellow flowers. Superb for edging, groundcover and cottage borders.

GardenAdvice notes

A much-loved cottage-garden favourite, lady’s mantle forms soft mounds of beautiful rounded, pleated leaves, famous for the way they hold glistening beads of water after rain or dew. In early summer it produces a long-lasting froth of tiny, chartreuse-green flowers that soften borders and mix with almost anything. Tough, easy and adaptable, it makes excellent edging and groundcover, and its acid-green flowers are lovely for cutting.

Growing & planting

Plant in spring or autumn in most soils in full sun to partial shade — it is very tolerant and easy, coping with a wide range of conditions. Ideal for edging paths and borders, and as groundcover. Space about 45cm apart. Water well while establishing.

Care & maintenance

Low-maintenance. After the flowers fade, cut the whole plant back hard to the ground; it quickly produces a fresh mound of foliage, and this also prevents its very prolific self-seeding. It self-seeds freely if not cut back, which can be welcome or a nuisance. Water in dry spells.

Propagation

• Division: Lift and divide clumps in spring or autumn.
• Seed: Self-seeds very freely; seedlings are easily moved or removed.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free, tough and healthy. Its main trait is prolific self-seeding. Otherwise easy and reliable, with few pests or diseases.

Uses in the garden

Superb for edging paths and borders, softening hard edges, as groundcover, and in cottage, mixed and wildlife gardens, where its pleated foliage and frothy lime flowers blend beautifully with other plants; excellent for cutting.

Wildlife value

The frothy flowers are attractive to a range of small pollinating insects, and the dense foliage provides ground-level cover.

Toxicity & safety

Lady’s mantle is generally regarded as non-toxic to people and pets.

GardenAdvice tip

Lady’s mantle is one of the most useful edging and filler plants there is — those pleated leaves holding raindrops are lovely, and the frothy lime flowers go with everything. The key trick is to shear the whole plant to the ground once the flowers fade: you get a fresh mound of foliage and, crucially, you stop its very enthusiastic self-seeding before it takes over.

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