Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla mollis) is a popular perennial valued for its scalloped, velvety leaves and sprays of airy, chartreuse flowers. Gardeners often seek to incorporate this plant into their landscapes, but they worry about its vulnerability to browsing deer. The question of whether this foliage will be consumed is natural for anyone gardening in areas with significant wildlife presence. Understanding the plant’s natural defenses provides the answer to its survival in a deer-populated environment.
Defining Lady’s Mantle’s Deer Resistance Level
Lady’s Mantle is widely categorized as a highly deer-resistant plant, making it a reliable choice for gardens subject to browsing pressure. Its status is generally rated as seldom severely damaged, meaning deer usually avoid it unless they are facing extreme hunger or a lack of alternative food sources. This resistance is not absolute immunity, as no plant is completely deer-proof, but it reflects a low preference by the animals.
Deer are selective eaters and typically bypass Alchemilla mollis for more palatable options. Choosing plants with a lower palatability index is a foundational strategy for mitigating wildlife damage. This low-preference status suggests that even a hungry deer will likely only sample the plant before moving on.
Why Deer Avoid Lady’s Mantle
The primary reasons deer avoid Lady’s Mantle are rooted in its unique physical and chemical properties. The leaves of Alchemilla mollis have a distinctive texture that is generally unappealing to browsing animals. They are covered with soft, fine hairs, giving the foliage a fuzzy or velvety feel. Deer instinctively dislike this coarse texture in their mouths, preferring smooth, tender leaves.
The plant also contains specific compounds that contribute to an unfavorable taste. Lady’s Mantle contains tannins and bitter substances. Tannins provide an astringent quality that creates a dry, puckering sensation in the mouth. This bitter taste acts as a natural deterrent, signaling that the plant is not a desirable food source. The combination of undesirable texture and bitter flavor forms the plant’s effective defense mechanism.
Mitigation When Deer Pressure Is High
Even with its natural resistance, Lady’s Mantle can occasionally be browsed in environments with high deer populations or during periods of food scarcity. In these situations, external interventions can help protect the plants. One effective strategy is companion planting to create a scent barrier. Planting Lady’s Mantle near strongly scented herbs like lavender or sage can help mask its presence and confuse the deer’s sensitive sense of smell.
Physical barriers offer the most reliable protection, especially for young or newly established plants. Temporary netting or small, low-level fencing can be installed around vulnerable plantings to discourage access. Another option involves the consistent application of commercial deer repellent sprays. These products use foul-tasting or foul-smelling ingredients to deter feeding. Repellents must be reapplied regularly, especially after rain or when new growth appears.