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Herbaceous Perennial

Alchemilla 'Irish Silk'

An herbaceous perennial to 45cm tall, forming a mound of large, softly felted, pale green leaves. From late spring to summer it produces strong stems bearing airy clusters of tiny, yellowy-green flowers; these are good for cutting

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

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)

Botanical details

Family: Rosaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Alchemilla are perennials with palmately lobed basal leaves and sprays of tiny, yellow or greenish flowers
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in any moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade

Propagation

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

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds
Garden edging
Ground cover
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

Trim back tatty leaves and spent flower stems in midsummer for a second flush

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

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