Lady's Mantle in the South

20 years ago

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone's had experience growing Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla Mollis) in this area. My in-laws in Michigan have tons of it but according to a couple of my sources it may be too hot here. What do you guys think? Thanks in advance for your assistance!

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shenandoah

20 years ago

When I was a southern greenhorn some years ago I went to buy several pots of lady's mantle at a nursery and the woman working there made a funny face when I put them in my cart. "Don't they grow well here?" I asked. She looked over her shoulder, checking to see if the boss was around. "It can be difficult," she said, and then, deciding she shouldn't discourage a sale, amended that. "Try it for yourself and see." I bought the plants, put them in my garden, and they literally melted away as the weather warmed. So now I know better. Almost ANYTHING I see growing in massive heaps and billows in a British gardening book or mag (or PNW, for that matter) I avoid like the plague, because I know my climate is the exact opposite. Now when I shop at a nursery and I see someone picking up alchemilla mollis or delphinium or cyclamen or anything else that I know is going to be dead in two weeks I make a face -- and hope they catch on.

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Comments (14)

jeff_al
20 years ago
didn't like my place at all. may be that zone 7 is its southern limit?
lsmcw
20 years ago
I've tried it twice - didn't like me either. Linda
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I'm actually pretty happy with the overall variety available. I can grow a lot of what I grew in MA - I was a zone 6b - and my Mom insists the Cape area is 7a. Not all the zone 7 plants were reliable there though, and they pretty much are here. Being in northern Madison county, in the cooler part of the valley, I'm curious to see if any 8's will survive here. Then there are a few things that don't take kindly to the warmer environment - like lilacs - but I understand I can find at least one variety that will do well in the south. I've also heard that oriental poppies won't do well here, or delphs. I have just planted out some oriental poppy seedlings - I had the seeds anyway - as an experiment. The new garden is fun. I was so worried that most of what I planted out last year wouldn't come back, but everything did except asclepias and passiflora caerulea - both of which are native here; go figure. I will miss my lady's mantle, however.
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Steve also wanted to chime in about my experience. I have LM in deep shade and full sun, various types of soils. It seems that once they are established they just done care about much except heat. In my climate, which is certainly mild, they can get multiple hours of sun and do fine. But, if we have a hotter year where days are in the upper 80s and above, then they certainly do scorch. If you get multiple hot days in a row where you are, any LM in sun would benefit from afternoon shade. If I was in a hot and humid climate, they'd absolutely be put in an area favoring shade. Three years ago I divided and transplanted some LM. The ones in 6+ hours of sun are in lovely soil that was tilled, amended with compost and peat moss, and is still light and lovely to this day. Just makes my heart happy. I divided LM into multiple small divisions, made sure they got deep waterings as established, good mulch to hold moisture, and they are huge. They took a huge leap in size the next year, and by year three are fantastic. But, if the day gets hot (over 90) they sag and just lose their "silvery glow" and beauty. We can go all summer with maybe one day over 90, so generally not a problem here. This summer is looking to be a hot one. Curious to see how they'll do. The LM planted in deep shade with soil that has its own leaf mold from the canopy is still pretty small. In year three they are doing fine, but have not filled in their space yet. They look like a normal LM, but seem to be just growing more slowly. None of the plants got extra water after the first year of establishment, either, by the way. Last summer we were very very dry. It was their second year, and they did well. I'm sure the peat moss in the soil helped hold some moisture for them last summer. So, my experience: Ideal condition is part sun. Start them out with good quality soil and amendments, keep them watered as they establish. Then just let them be! One more note on established LM: When we purchased the house there were many trees dangerously close to the house which were removed. An existing shade/part sun planting bed now gets mostly sun, and the plants suffered. The LM in that bed, however, are barely fazed. Get them established, and they are very adaptable. Seedlings popping up occasionally are an added bonus.
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Iris GW
20 years ago
I see it growing at abandoned home sites from time to time in the atlanta area.
tabassam
20 years ago
I bought some cheap 6-packs from Wal-mart 3 yrs. ago and put some in a moist shady place--they were very small for 2 yrs. and this spring they finally have some growth to where it is noticable. I wouldn't buy any expensive ones. The ones I planted in dry shade and/or sunny places died out. By the way, I have a 2yr. cyclamen in a small pot that I overwintered and have placed in a shady cool microclimate place and it bloomed again (only 2 blooms, but I was trilled nevertheless) and still holding on with the blooms going on 6 weeks. I think if you have a microclimate that would suit a potential plant--you probaly can grow it.
ccl38
20 years ago
Planted it twice--watched it die both times--won't plant it again.
sugarhill
20 years ago
I have alchemilla mollis - common Lady's Mantle. It grows fine just north of Atlanta in Gwinnett County. Better than fine. I got mine from a nursery over near Athens that sells only plants that do well in this area of Georgia. It's absolutely beautiful today after yesterday's rain. I'm a beginner gardener and not very good at it yet, so you don't need to know what you're doing to grow it. Make sure it's in shade.
squirrelspur
19 years ago
I have some I grew from seed that is doing well under trees. 'Irish Silk' is the name of the cultivar.

K
ccl38
19 years ago
It is such a pretty plant and I have watched it melt twice.
faeriegardenmum zone 6
10 years ago
Looking for anyone else to comment, I want some so bad, miss my Midwest garden. I have been planting other plants with need of afternoon shade, in a new part sun bed with improved soil, hoping that may be what they need. I am halfway between ATL and Chatanooga.
lackey5335
8 years ago
Just planted 6 of them around a tall tree in my yard,waiting on them to sprout up,its not a very shaded area,will they do good?An how much should I water them and how long before they start sprouting up ?
faeriegardenmum zone 6
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I think it's most important to give them some protection from the late day sun. Like you should for most Heucheras. I just love it, and as someone else commented, so beautiful after the rain. Keep it watered especially the first year until established. They should wow you next year, if they are in the right spot.
HU-456651571
5 years ago
I'm in Memphis (sort of between South and Midwest, but very hot in summer). I have perfect spot in garden (lots of shade with a little morning sun), and I love the plant, so I was going to try next year. Is it a bad idea? I realize I'll have to water a lot.
marcyfink
last year
I keep trying it in Cobb county greater ATL, but have crash and burned so far. Trying again on a more shaded spot…..

Lady's Mantle in the South

shenandoah

Comments (14)

jeff_al

lsmcw

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