What is this - and can it be saved?

[gardeningnovice5]

I planted this last spring/summer and it never did very well. I just pulled out a load of weeds and was surprised to find it still alive (just!) almost a year later. Does anyone know what it is, and how I can help it grow? It does look like it’s on its last legs, but like I say - to be honest I’m surprised it’s still here at all!

It looks like alchemilla mollis or lady's mantle?

Alchemilla Mollis, it’s a beautiful green clump, when it rains it will hold one drop in the centre of each leaf. It sends up these feathery green flowers which are fab in any cut flower arrangement.

It is alchemilla mollis, and if you look closely, there are a lot of new buds coming. They tend to die back in the winter and don't look much, but I reckon it is okay.

Alchemilla Mollis, tough so just let it be, good for ground cover

Looks like alchemilla mollis. They do look like that over the winter, mine's probably 3-4 weeks ahead of that so soon you should get lots of growth. Definitely keep it, the are easy to grow, don't spread madly but do a bit if you want them to. (Watch out for self-seeding elsewhere though if you want to contain them.) I love the way they look after it's just rained as they usually have big drops of rain like jewels!

As for rescuing it, clearing the weeds will probably be enough but I would keep it watered and maybe give it a boost with some seaweed feed or similar

Thank you! You’re right, the name is coming back to me now. I think being totally covered by weeds has hampered its growth somewhat. Here’s hoping it’ll make a full recovery. I honestly can’t believe it survived the winter.

Hurrah, thank you!

Lots of new buds - this made my day, cheers!

Would you cut off all those dead stringy bits?

I hope it does spread as I really like it.

Depends where you are. They spread madly here, and I know of a SSSI nature reserve way out in the countryside which is plagued by the stuff.

I fight a permanent battle against it.

Yes, or see if they’ll pull off, which is quicker. Won’t make any difference to the plant, but it will look tidier. But if you don’t get round to it, they”ll soon be hidden by leaves.