Alchemilla vulgaris L. agg.

RHS Plant Profile
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Other common names

lion's paw, bear's foot, duck's foot, lady's mantle, lion's foot

Herbaceous Perennial
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A clumping, deciduous perennial forming mounds of foliage to 60cm tall and wide. Leaves are rounded to kidney-shaped, lobed and have serrated margins. Clusters of tiny, yellow-green flowers are borne on short stems from summer into autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Rosaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Alchemilla are perennials with palmately lobed basal leaves and sprays of tiny, yellow or greenish flowers
Name Status
Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Will tolerate any soil so long as there is some moisture; suitable for sun or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by seed in spring or by division in early spring or autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Banks and slopes
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Garden edging
  • Ground cover
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

Once the flowers and foliage become untidy from late summer onwards, shear off and new foliage will appear

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free