Said to have been worn as an adornment by the Virgin Mary, and named accordingly, lady’s mantle is soft textured, clump forming, and a plant of unparalleled charm and grace. Among its unique features is its lovely soft gray-green velvet covered 2 to 4-inch wide multilobed foliage. In youth the leaves are pleated, and then as later, display glistening beads of water about their edges during early morning (from a process known as guttation). The curious chartreuse green flowers of lady’s mantle are borne in good quantity mid to late spring into summer and lend an element of subtle contrast. Lady’s mantle prefers a moist organically rich well drained neutral to slightly acidic loamy soil. It is a superb edging plant and combines nicely with pines, rhododendrons, and numerous companions.