Lady’s Mantle is a vigorous member of the rose family that you’ll often spot growing wild along streambanks or at the edge of the woods. But honestly, it’s becoming a real superstar in home gardens lately, too! Beyond its pretty scalloped leaves, it’s a powerhouse in herbal medicine, used for everything from teas to topical skin care. If you’re looking to stock your herbal pantry, you might be wondering: what’s the best way to dry Lady’s Mantle?
Step 1: Timing Your Harvest Just Right
To get the most bang for your buck, you’ll want to harvest this herb right in the middle of its blooming season—usually between June and July. This is when the concentration of active ingredients in both the leaves and flowers is at its peak. Bonus tip: if you trim back the faded parts after this first harvest, you might even get a second flush of blooms in August!
When you’re ready to pick, you can take the leaves, flowers, and stems—basically, everything above the ground is fair game for drying. Just make sure to wait until the morning dew has completely evaporated before you start. Use a clean pair of garden shears to snip the plant parts just above the soil level.
Step 2: Spread Everything Out
Once you’ve gathered your harvest, you need to spread the leaves and flowers out on a flat surface so they can breathe. Baking sheets, wire cooling racks, or even plain, uncolored paper work great for this.
Pro Tip: Make sure the pieces aren’t overlapping or piled on top of each other. If they’re too crowded, they can turn brown or start to rot before they actually dry out.
Step 3: The Waiting Game
Find a shady, airy spot indoors (or a covered north-facing porch) and let the herb sit for several days. If you’re feeling impatient, you can use a food dehydrator. In a dehydrator set between 95°F and 105°F (35°–40°C), the process only takes about 24 hours.
A quick heads-up: I’d steer clear of using your kitchen oven for this. Even on the lowest setting, the heat is usually too intense and can destroy the delicate medicinal compounds we’re trying to save.
Step 4: Proper Storage
Once your Lady’s Mantle is “potato chip” dry, it’s time to pack it away. Your best bet is an airtight container—dark glass jars are perfect for keeping light out. Small paper bags or tea tins also work well if you have them on hand.
By the way, don’t feel like you have to dry everything! You can use Lady’s Mantle fresh from the garden to add a unique twist to wild herb salads or your morning smoothie.