Growing guide

How to grow alchemilla

Alchemilla mollis and its relatives form compact mounds or mats of attractive leaves, topped with frothy lime-green flowers in summer. They’re popular, easy-to-grow, slug-resistant border plants, ideal as edging or ground cover in sun or partial shade. Cut them back after flowering for a burst of fresh-looking foliage.

Save to My scrapbook

Quick facts

  • Easy to grow, hardy and low maintenance
  • Attractive scalloped or lobed leaves
  • Long-lasting frothy flowers in summer
  • Plant in sun or partial shade
  • Low growing, so ideal as ground cover or edging
  • Downy leaves are resistant to slugs and snails
  • Make new plants by dividing clumps or sowing seeds
  • Self-seed freely if not deadheaded

All you need to know

Before you get started
Planting
Ongoing care
Pruning and training
Propagating
Problems
While we think all this information will be helpful to you, we always recommend to read the instruction labels on your plants.

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.