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Hairless Lady's-mantle

Alchemilla glabra

Please keep in mind that it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner's consent and care should be taken at all times not to damage wild plants. Wild plants should never be picked for pleasure and some plants are protected by law.
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Plant Profile
Other Information
- Summary
- Blog
- Appearance
- Uses
- Cultivation
- Additional Information
- Video

Flowering Months:

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Order:

Rosales

Family:

Rosaceae (Rose)

Also in this family:

Acute Leaf-lobed Lady's-mantle, Alpine Cinquefoil, Alpine Lady's-mantle, Ampfield Cotoneaster, Arran Whitebeam, Barren Strawberry, Bastard Agrimony, Bastard Service Tree, Bearberry Cotoneaster, Bird Cherry, Blackthorn, Bloody Whitebeam, Bramble, Bristol Whitebeam, Broad-leaved Whitebeam, Broadtooth Lady's-mantle, Bronze Pirri-pirri-bur, Bullace Plum, Bullate Cotoneaster, Burnet Rose, Catacol Whitebeam, Caucasian Lady's-mantle, Cheddar Whitebeam, Cherry Laurel, Cherry Plum, Chinese Photinia, Cloudberry, Clustered Lady's-mantle, Common Agrimony, Common Hawthorn, Common Lady's-mantle, Common Medlar, Common Ninebark, Common Whitebeam, Crab Apple, Creeping Chinese Bramble, Creeping Cinquefoil, Crimean Lady's-mantle, Cultivated Apple, Cultivated Pear, Cut-leaved Blackberry, Damson, Devon Whitebeam, Dewberry, Diel's Cotoneaster, Dog Rose, Doward Whitebeam, Dropwort, Elm-leaved Bramble, English Whitebeam, Entire-leaved Cotoneaster, False Salmonberry, Field Rose, Firethorn, Fodder Burnet, Fragrant Agrimony, Franchet's Cotoneaster, Garden Lady's-mantle, Garden Strawberry, Giant Meadowsweet, Glaucous Dog Rose, Goatsbeard Spiraea, Gough's Rock Whitebeam, Great Burnet, Greengage Plum, Grey-leaved Whitebeam, Hairy Lady's-mantle, Hautbois Strawberry, Himalayan Blackberry, Himalayan Cotoneaster, Himalayan Whitebeam, Hoary Cinquefoil, Hollyberry Cotoneaster, Hupeh Rowan, Hybrid Cinquefoil, Hybrid Geum, Irish Whitebeam, Japanese Cherry, Japanese Quince, Japanese Rose, Jew's Mallow, Juneberry, Lancaster Whitebeam, Late Cotoneaster, Least Lady's-mantle, Least Whitebeam, Leigh Woods Whitebeam, Ley's Whitebeam, Liljefor's Whitebeam, Littleleaf Cotoneaster, Llangollen Whitebeam, Llanthony Whitebeam, Lleyn Cotoneaster, Loganberry, Many-flowered Rose, Margaret's Whitebeam, Marsh Cinquefoil, Meadowsweet, Midland Hawthorn, Mougeot's Whitebeam, Mountain Ash, Mountain Avens, Mountain Sibbaldia, Moupin's Cotoneaster, No Parking Whitebeam, Ocean Spray, Orange Whitebeam, Pale Bridewort, Pale Lady's-mantle, Parsley Piert, Pirri-pirri-bur, Plymouth Pear, Portuguese Laurel, Purple-flowered Raspberry, Quince, Raspberry, Rock Cinquefoil, Rock Lady's-mantle, Rock Whitebeam, Round-leaved Dog Rose, Round-leaved Whitebeam, Rum Cherry, Russian Cinquefoil, Salad Burnet, Sargent's Rowan, Scannell's Whitebeam, Service Tree, Sharp-toothed Whitebeam, Sherard's Downy Rose, Shining Lady's-mantle, Ship Rock Whitebeam, Short-styled Rose, Shrubby Cinquefoil, Silver Lady's-mantle, Silverweed, Slender Parsley Piert, Slender-spined Bramble, Small-flowered Sweetbriar, Small-leaved Sweetbriar, Soft Downy Rose, Somerset Whitebeam, Sorbaria, Sour Cherry, Southern Downy Rose, Southern Lady's-mantle, Spineless Acaena, Spring Cinquefoil, St. Lucie's Cherry, Steeplebush, Stern's Cotoneaster, Stirton's Whitebeam, Stone Bramble, Sulphur Cinquefoil, Swedish Service Tree, Swedish Whitebeam, Sweet Briar, Symond's Yat Whitebeam, Tengyueh Cotoneaster, Thimbleberry, Thin-leaved Whitebeam, Tibetan Cotoneaster, Tormentil, Trailing Tormentil, Tree Cotoneaster, Trefoil Cinquefoil, Twin-cliffs Whitebeam, Two-spined Acaena, Wall Cotoneaster, Water Avens, Waterer's Cotoneaster, Waxy Lady's-mantle, Welsh Cotoneaster, Welsh Whitebeam, White Burnet, White's Whitebeam, White-stemmed Bramble, Wild Cherry, Wild Pear, Wild Plum, Wild Service Tree, Wild Strawberry, Willmott's Whitebeam, Willow-leaved Bridewort, Willow-leaved Cotoneaster, Wineberry, Wood Avens, Wye Whitebeam, Yellow-flowered Strawberry

Type:

Flower

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Maximum Size:

30 centimetres tall

Habitats:

Grassland, meadows, mountains, riversides, waterside, woodland.

Flower:

✿

Yellow, 4 petals

Hairless Lady’s-mantle produces clusters of tiny, yellow-green flowers from May to August. The flowers are star-like but lack petals, consisting instead of four sepals surrounding the reproductive parts. They are arranged in open sprays (cyme-like inflorescences) held above the leaves. The flowers are wind-pollinated, though they may also self-fertilise, and are generally inconspicuous, blending well with the foliage.

Fruit:

The fruit is a small, dry, one-seeded nutlet that develops inside the flower’s persistent calyx. These nutlets are light and easily dispersed by water, wind, or passing animals. While not a major food source, they may occasionally be consumed by small mammals or birds.

Leaves:

The leaves are soft, rounded, and lobed — typically divided into 7–9 shallowly toothed segments with smooth (glabrous) surfaces, unlike the more commonly seen Alchemilla mollis, which has hairy leaves. The leaf surface often catches dewdrops or raindrops in the centre, a characteristic feature of the genus. The foliage forms low, spreading clumps and is a useful ID feature.

Fragrance:

The plant is not noted for any distinct fragrance. The flowers are unscented, and the foliage releases only a faint, earthy aroma when crushed. As such, its appeal lies more in its subtle beauty and botanical interest than in any scent.

Other Names:

Smooth Lady's-mantle.

Frequency (UK):

Common

Summary

Alchemilla glabra, commonly known as smooth lady's mantle, is a perennial herb native to Europe and Asia. It is a low-growing plant that typically reaches a height of 15-30 cm and spreads through its creeping rhizomes. The leaves are basal, lobed, and have a scalloped margin, typically reaching 5-15 cm (2-6 inches) long. The leaves are glabrous, that is, hairless, hence the species name glabra. The flowers are small, yellow-green, and arranged in large clusters on tall stems, typically blooming from June to September. It prefers moist, well-drained soils in partial shade, but it can tolerate a wide range of soil and light conditions. It is commonly found in woodlands, meadows, and along streams. It is similar in appearance to Alchemilla vulgaris and Alchemilla mollis, but it can be distinguished by its glabrous leaves.

Blog

Hairless Lady's-mantle, scientifically known as Alchemilla glabra, is a perennial plant belonging to the Rosaceae family. This plant is commonly found in meadows, woodlands, and mountainous regions of Europe, Asia, and North America.

Appearance

Hairless Lady's-mantle is a low-growing plant that typically reaches a height of 10-30cm. It has basal leaves that are smooth, green, and rounded, with a diameter of 5-8cm. The leaves have a distinctive shape, with shallow lobes that resemble the shape of a hand. The edges of the leaves are serrated, and the veins are deeply impressed, giving the leaves a textured appearance.

The flowers of Hairless Lady's-mantle are small and greenish-yellow, and they bloom in early summer. The plant is monoecious, meaning that it has both male and female flowers on the same plant. The flowers are followed by small, rounded fruits that contain one or two seeds.

Uses

Hairless Lady's-mantle has a long history of use in traditional medicine. The plant contains tannins, flavonoids, and other compounds that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It has been used to treat a variety of ailments, including menstrual cramps, digestive disorders, and respiratory infections.

In addition to its medicinal uses, Hairless Lady's-mantle is also a popular ornamental plant. Its low-growing habit and attractive foliage make it a popular choice for rock gardens, borders, and edging. It is also used in floral arrangements and as a ground cover in landscaping.

Cultivation

Hairless Lady's-mantle is an easy plant to grow, and it thrives in well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. It prefers a partially shaded location but can also grow in full sun. The plant is drought-tolerant and can withstand moderate frosts.

Propagation is typically done by division or by taking stem cuttings in the spring or autumn. Seeds can also be sown in the spring, but they require stratification before planting.

Hairless Lady's-mantle is an attractive and useful plant that has been valued for centuries for its medicinal and ornamental properties. With its easy cultivation and adaptability to different growing conditions, it is a great addition to any garden or landscape.

Additional Information

Hairless Lady's-mantle has a number of interesting features that make it stand out from other plants. One of the most notable is the way that its leaves interact with water. The leaves of Hairless Lady's-mantle are covered in tiny hairs that create a surface tension that causes water droplets to bead up and roll off the surface of the leaf. This unique trait has made it a popular subject for photographers and artists.

Another interesting feature of Hairless Lady's-mantle is its role in folklore and mythology. In medieval times, the plant was believed to have magical powers, and it was often used in spells and potions. It was said to have the power to heal wounds, protect against evil spirits, and even grant immortality.

Hairless Lady's-mantle is also an important plant for wildlife. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and moths. The plant is also a host plant for the larvae of several species of moths.

It's worth noting that there are several other species of Lady's-mantle that are closely related to Hairless Lady's-mantle. These include Alchemilla mollis, which has a similar appearance but is covered in soft hairs, and Alchemilla vulgaris, which has a more upright growth habit and smaller leaves. All of these plants are valued for their ornamental and medicinal properties, and they are a fascinating group of plants to explore for anyone interested in botany or horticulture.

Hairless Lady's-mantle also has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine. The plant is known for its astringent and anti-inflammatory properties, and it has been used to treat a wide range of health conditions, including diarrhea, menstrual cramps, and wounds. In addition, Hairless Lady's-mantle has been used as a diuretic and to alleviate symptoms of menopause.

One of the key active compounds in Hairless Lady's-mantle is ellagic acid, which is a type of polyphenol that has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This compound has been the subject of numerous scientific studies, and researchers are investigating its potential as a treatment for various health conditions, including cancer and cardiovascular disease.

In addition to its medicinal uses, Hairless Lady's-mantle has a number of culinary uses as well. The plant has a slightly bitter flavor, and it is sometimes used as a garnish or in salads. The leaves can also be used to make tea, which is said to have a refreshing and mildly astringent flavor.

Overall, Hairless Lady's-mantle is a fascinating plant with a long and storied history. Its unique appearance, interesting folklore, and diverse range of uses make it a plant that is worth learning more about, whether you are a gardener, herbalist, or simply someone who enjoys exploring the natural world.

Video

Hairless Lady's-mantle filmed at Bochastle in Scotland on the 2nd July 2025.

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