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Alchemilla vulgaris

Lady's Mantle

Family RosaceaeGenus Alchemilla

Loose clusters of tiny yellow-green flowers over rounded, lobed and toothed leaves, among grass
FlowerNaomi MooreCC0
A color plate of rounded pleated leaves with toothed margins and sprays of tiny green flowers, with a single flower, a stamen and a seed drawn enlarged beside them
IllustrationUser:Kilom691CC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

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

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Flower
Yellow-greenRead from the photograph on this page
Native range
Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Central European Russia and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

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

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Read from the photograph on this page — Deno's Garden; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Lady's mantle, also called padelion, is sometimes grown in gardens for its leaves and stems, which are harvested to make herbal infusions. In the wild it grows in unimproved grassland, on roadside verges, chalk downland and mountain slopes. Wikipedia: Alchemilla vulgaris

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around July 3, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on July 2, 2026.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 9 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4, in 7 days.

56% germination in 3–7 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Alchemilla p. 17Public domain
Show the original text
Alchemilla (Rosaceae). In retrospect it is likely that OS may be the best treatment for the five species studied atthough, unfortunately, OS was not trled initiallly on any of the five. In the 2nd Ed. A. vulgaris germ. 44% in March in OT from seed placed outdoors the previous October and none in the other treatments after two cycles. Similar to A. faeronensis, when seeds from 70L-40-70L and 70D-40 wre shifted to OS, germination was 70% on the 3rd w and 58% on the 8th d. Also similar to A. faeronensis, seeds from 70D-40- 70D treatment shifted to OS failed to germinate. Seeds did germinate 40-70-40- 70(56% in 3-7 d), but this extended treatment is approaching OS treatment. Seeds DS 1 y were dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Alchemilla p. 17. 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, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Sow around October 2027 — a date the source gives, not one counted back from a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 2026.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Sown outdoors in October; up in March.

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 150 days to germinate.

44% germination in 150 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Alchemilla p. 17Public domain
Show the original text
Alchemilla (Rosaceae). In retrospect it is likely that OS may be the best treatment for the five species studied atthough, unfortunately, OS was not trled initiallly on any of the five. In the 2nd Ed. A. vulgaris germ. 44% in March in OT from seed placed outdoors the previous October and none in the other treatments after two cycles. Similar to
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Alchemilla p. 17. 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.

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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