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Alchemilla mollis

Garden Lady's-mantle · Lady's Mantle · Soft Lady's-mantle · Lady's-mantle

Family RosaceaeGenus Alchemilla

A large pleated fan-shaped leaf with a finely toothed edge, veins radiating from the stalk
LeafIesCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous Perennial, PerennialExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
1-1.5 ft30-45 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
1-1.5 ft30-45 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Gold/YellowExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Bulgaria, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, TürkiyeGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
3-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Dappled Sunlight; Deep shade; Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Alchemists thought the beads of water that collect on lady's mantle leaves were the purest water, and used it in trying to turn base metal into gold, hence the name Alchemilla. Mollis means "soft", for the hairs on its leaves. It self-seeds freely and can become invasive. Wikipedia: Alchemilla mollis

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 29, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow on the surface — do not cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 7 days to germinate.

37% germination in 7 days.

Light is an absolute requirement: nothing at all germinates in the dark, and seed held in the dark for six weeks then moved into light behaves as though the six weeks never happened. A first order rate with a half life of five days. The seed had been dry stored two years and 40% of it rotted.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Alchemilla p. 90Public domain
Show the original text
Alchemilla (Rosaceae). A. moths germ. 70L(37%, ind. t 7 d, half life 5 d) and 70D(none). When the sample in 70D was shifted to 70L after 6 w, germination began and proceeded with exactly the same rate characteristics as if the 6 w in 70D had not occurred. The seeds used in these experiments had been DS for 2 y and 40% of the seeds quickly rotted.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Alchemilla p. 90. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 25, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Sow on the surface — do not cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 3 months from start to sowing. Then 11 days to germinate.

31% germination in 3–11 days.

Three months at 40 partly removes the light requirement: in the dark after a cold period, 9% germinates where none did before.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Alchemilla p. 90Public domain
Show the original text
Subjecting the seeds to 3 m at 40 partially removed the photorequirement as shown by 40- 70L(31% in 3-11 d) and 40-70D(9% in 3-7 d). The removal of the photorequirement was also shown in outdoor treatment where 16% germ. in April and May.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Alchemilla p. 90. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

No stated waiting before sowing.

16% germination.

Germination came in April and May.

This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Alchemilla p. 90Public domain
Show the original text
The removal of the photorequirement was also shown in outdoor treatment where 16% germ. in April and May.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Alchemilla p. 90. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing germinates in the dark.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Alchemilla p. 90Public domain
Show the original text
Alchemilla (Rosaceae). A. moths germ. 70L(37%, ind. t 7 d, half life 5 d) and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Alchemilla p. 90. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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