Family: Rosaceae
Alchemilla mollis (garden lady’s-mantle, lady’s mantle) is an herbaceous perennial native to Southern Europe. It is commonly cultivated throughout the world as an ornamental plant. Often grown as a groundcover this plant is known for holding morning dew on its leaves, creating an attractive appearance. It is reported to be widely naturalized in western and central Europe, but has not been documented on any Hawaiian Islands to date. This plant can be invasive because of its abundant seed production, it can also spread vegetatively by rhizomes. It forms dense mounds in the wild that may compete for other plants. Although Alchemilla mollis is more suited to temperate climates, it could prove to be an issue if naturalized in higher elevations in Hawaiʻi.
High Risk Traits:
- Broad climate suitability
- Widely naturalized in western and central Europe (no evidence in Hawaiian Islands to date)
- A weedy plant of lawns, landscaping, disturbed sites, and possibly natural areas
- Other species are crop weeds.
- Unpalatable to deer, rabbits and possibly other browsing animals
- Shade tolerant
- Tolerates many soil types.
- Forms dense mounds that may compete with or inhibit other vegetation.
- Reproduces apomictically by seeds and vegetatively by rhizomes.
- Reaches maturity in 2 years.
- Dispersed as garden waste, intentionally by people, and possibly by water.
- Prolific seed production (numbers unquantified)
- May be able to resprout after cutting or damage
Low Risk Traits:
- A plant of temperate climates, may only be a threat at cooler, higher elevations of tropical islands.
- A popular garden plant that may be used to suppress other weedy plants.
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Non-toxic
