Lady's mantle - you may have met it before or you are flirting with it. As a herb, it is known for its extremely undemanding and easy-care nature. But if you really want to get to know him, you should dig deeper into him…

In a nutshell: the most important facts

  • Plant family and genus: Rosaceae, Alchemilla
  • Origin: Eastern Europe, Asia
  • Hardiness: absolutely frost-resistant
  • Growth: upright, low, herbaceous
  • Foliage: rounded to kidney-shaped, lobed
  • Flowers: June to July (post-flowering until September), panicles, yellow-green
  • Fruits: single-seeded nutlets
  • Location: sunny to shady
  • Soil: moderately nutritious, loamy, chalky
  • Propagation: division, sowing
  • Use: ornamental plant, border, kitchen herb, medicinal plant

What's up with his name

Like a protective cloak, the lady's cloak wraps itself around the world of women. Thanks to a plant hormone that is similar to female progesterone, it can be used to treat many of the ailments of being a woman, such as menstrual pain, heavy bleeding and menopausal problems.

The botanical name 'Alchemilla' is derived from 'alchemist's herb'. This is what scientists liked to call the lady's mantle in the Middle Ages. The scientists were amazed by the dewdrops - a natural distillate from the leaves - that formed on the leaves every morning.

From bottom to top

A creeping rootstock spreads in the ground. A rosette-like growth emerges from it on the surface. The lady's mantle grows up to 40 cm high and 50 cm wide.

Its rounded to kidney-shaped foliage is between 5 and 15 cm wide, lobed and slightly hairy on the underside. Depending on the species, the top of the foliage is bare to hairy. In June, the foliage is overshadowed by long inflorescences. There are panicles and lateral inflorescences. The individual flowers are fourfold and kronblattlos.

A top-class medicinal herb

Both the leaves and the flowers of the lady's mantle are used for medicinal purposes. They are edible and should be harvested when flowering begins.

Whether a tea, a smoothie, an ointment or a mouthwash, the herb, which can be used both internally and externally, works, among other things:

  • antispasmodic
  • blood purifying
  • circulation-enhancing
  • anti-inflammatory
  • analgesic
  • digestive
  • antibacterial
  • calming

tips and tricks

Lady's mantle is also known under the names Silbermantel, Feverkraut, Liebfrauenmantel and Allerfrauenheil.

KKF

Category:

Herbs