I just dug mine out a couple of weeks ago. I thought they were seeding, even though I deadheaded promptly. They had formed a dense mat. When we dug them out, I found out why... I didn't realize they had a thick, creeping root (rhizome...? whatever...) I would never plant these again unless it was somewhere were they were contained or where you never wanted to move them. Mine were the common A. mollis. Perhaps other species are better behaved... I will never let these into the garden again! (And I just noticed this afternoon that some are coming back from roots we missed...)

Gee, I liked mine! It was very well behaved, in my opinion, but then it had a lot of competition!! lol.

Nancy.

I just planted many of the common alchimilla mollis also. I guess we'll see how it behaves/survives.....

Mine will also have a great deal of competition.

I got one last year and it stayed small. this year it came back as a decent sized plant. I have it in between 2 hardy geraniums, one of which is Rozanne. I saw that combo in a magazine and liked the purple Rozanne flowers against the A. mollis flowers as good contrast. We'll see how it turns out in real life. If it is not good, I have a bed where I can put it that it can be a bit of a thug if it wants.

They are great. Love them. They do reseed but it's not hard to control.

I used to grow in NW NJ and the muggy summers were never an issue. It died out after about 5 years but I suspect my lamb's ears might have overwhelmed it.

I'd love to see photos. We cannot grow it here, and it is among my favorite small plants.
Renee

Just wanted to pop in and say I'm glad you got an answer, newbiehavinfun. I live in S. Jersey, too, but i've never grown alchemilla, so I couldn't answer your question on the NJ forum. Leslie

Hmm...I've had alchemilla in my gardens for years and oddly, they have never had blooms on them. They also have never spread one iota. It's pretty humid in NE too so I don't think you'll have any problem with it.

MeMo

Thanks, everyone! I think I'm going to try it. If it becomes a thug, I'll move it under a huge maple and see how it handles THAT.

I would say this is one of my best behaved plants, not a thug at all. It stays in one clump, the clump does get bigger but I wouldn't call it a spreading plant. I love the foliage, have you even seen how it catches water droplets? I am buying a few more this year.

It's lovely the way it catches the water droplets......

One of my newly planted lady's mantles is suffering a little in the bright sun. It's only getting a few hours sun but it's in the afternoon. The one right next to it is fine, but this one wilts. Keeping it well watered, and we'll see.....

When I lived north of Wilminton DE near the PA border I had them in my gardens - mid summer they would get pretty ratty looking but I would just cut off the worse leaves and it would fill right out again. I never found it invasive.....

Lynne

Mine is pretty well established after many years and babies pop up pretty regularly every Spring. I just pulled several little ones out from between some stones in the floor of the little sunken garden. Tried to post some pics I took this morning but the Kodak program won't download the pics from my camera or else it's my camera. I'll try later.

I'm surprised that it hasn't been a problem for anyone. I had planted one plant in this location. For the first two years it stayed small. When we removed it a week or so ago after it had been there about 4 years, it was taking up a space about 3-4' long and 2' wide and clearly had intentions of getting bigger. I had to remove a rock wall to get at some of it. Every day I see new bits popping up from bits of root we missed. I agree it's a charming looking plant - that's why I planted it... But enther I got a mutant or it's a different species than all of you have!

Mine is a spreader but it is so darn pretty in and out of flower, especially after a rain when the leaves looks like they're covered in pearls. Also it makes a great ground cover, I just yank where I don't want it or if individual plants get to big :).

Annette

Hello, everyone! I've not seen this discussed among these Lady's Mantle discussions nor do I see a Forum for it. I'm in Central PA, just bought 3 Lady's Mantles at an outdoor sale and was told that they would all fit in a 2' x 2' x 2' container and do well on my mostly shady balcony. I face SW but also a woods that's growing ever closer, so there are a few hours of sun each day and it's dappled. From what I read from the "Lady's Mantle" posts (which do not include container questions so far), the plant does well in all kinds of situations. However, I now realize the container I described to the sellers is 1 and 1/2 cubic ft, not 2. Will the 3 plants still be ok? I have more containers on wheels but also more types of plants. Also, Is this an herb or a regular plant? I've read both. Thanks!!