Lady’s mantle

Common name: Lady’s mantle

Botanical name: Alchemilla vulgaris

Botanical family: Rosaceae

Cultivation

Alchemilla vulgaris is resistant and resilient. It is frost hardy and doesn’t need much water. It grows better in well fed soil though.

It is often used as an ornamental plants in gardens.

It is easy to propagate from roots. The plant will slowly spread and multiply so allow a bit of space when planting it.

How does it do here in Central Otago? It grows well. During the hot and dry months, it will do better with extra water.

Traditional medicinal uses

Its main affinity is with the female reproductive system, especially with period complaints. 

Alchemilla vulgaris is often used in cases of imbalance and conditions of the reproductive system such as heavy period, painful period, and pelvic inflammatory disease. It can be used as a tonic as well as a healing herb.

It is astringent and antihemorrhagic.

How to use it?

Part used: aerial parts when the plant is flowering (leaves, stems and flowers).

It can be used fresh or dried as a tea, used for alcohol or glycerine extract.

Mythology/Folklore

Herb of Venus. Its botanical name, Alchemilla, comes from the Arabic and means “alchemy”. It is said that the dew drops collected by the leaves had magical powers and was used by the alchemists in their quest to transform base metals into gold.