Lady's mantle was valued as a medicinal plant as early as the Middle Ages and especially by Hildegard von Bingen. It can be used against numerous ailments. But what should you pay attention to when harvesting?

Where can you find lady's mantle?

Lady's mantle is often planted in gardens such as cottage gardens and front gardens. In addition, you can find it in its wild form from the lowlands all the way up to the Alps. It likes to grow on the edges of forests, on open and lush pastures and meadows, on fields and in sparse bushes. Locations that are moist to wet and nutrient-rich represent its favorite territory.

What can you harvest?

You can harvest all parts of the plant from the lady's mantle. The leaves are usually harvested for medicinal purposes. But the stems, flowers and roots can also be harvested and used later. It does not matter whether you harvest Alchemilla mollis (soft lady's mantle) or Alchemilla alpina (mountain lady's mantle).

When is the right harvest time?

Unlike most other herbs, lady's mantle is best harvested when it is in bloom. Flowering starts in May and lasts until August/September. Before you harvest the herb, see if the morning dew has dried off. The roots are dug up in spring or autumn.

How is it harvested?

How to proceed when harvesting:

  • Have sharp scissors or a knife ready
  • Cut off the leaves and flowers along with the stems
  • collect in a basket or bag
  • for the impatient: cut off only the upper leaves in spring

What can you do with the harvested leaves and flowers?

Lady's mantle is edible. Enjoyed neat, it tastes bitter and slightly sour, but pleasant in comparison to some other herbs. You can use the young leaves in salads and smoothies, for example. The flowers are often placed together in a vase.

Other uses include drying, preparing ointments and tinctures, making poultices and douches. The most common is drying lady's mantle. Care should be taken to ensure that the leaves do not turn brown.

tips and tricks

If you have a choice, collect mountain lady's mantle or wild lady's mantle rather than lady's mantle from the garden. The wild form has a higher proportion of active ingredients and is therefore more effective.

KKF

Category:

Herbs