Lady’s mantle

Alchemilla spp.

Distinguishing characteristics:
Lady’s mantle is a perennial herb that reaches a height of 10–50 cm. Finland is home to approximately 25 nearly identical species of perennial Lady’s mantle. They have pedate leaves with a pleated appearance, especially when young. The lady’s mantle can be easily identified by these fan-shaped leaves, on which droplets of dew will form in moist weather. Small, yellow-green flowers emerge at the top of the plant in May to August.

Habitat:
Lady’s mantle does well in many types of clear or semi-clear areas, often impacted by human activities or thickly vegetated, such as meadows, roadsides and shorelines. It needs a location with sun or partial shade and dry or semi-dry sandy soil. If lady’s mantle is cultivated as a salad green, the flowering parts can be cut off to keep new leaves sprouting until autumn.

Harvest season:
The leaves are gathered from early summer until flowering time. Young leaflets in partial shade are picked by hand. It is a good idea to taste some of the leaves as they are gathered, since the leaves of different species are hairy or hard to varying degrees and differ in flavour. The leaf stalk should be removed.

Use:
The leaves have a mild pungent flavour suitable for herbal beverages, soups, and baking. They also taste good on salads or sandwiches. The flowers and seeds can be used as seasoning. Found in the wild, lady’s mantle is also suitable for garden cultivation for both ornamental and culinary use.