Astrantia
Astrantia
Masterwort
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: moist, fertile soil
- Flowering period: June to August
- Height: 0,5-0,9m
- Foliage: deciduous
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Astrantia is a lovely perennial, bearing heads of pincushion flowers on wiry stems above deeply lobed, dark green leaves. In the wild astrantia often flowers at woodland margins. All astrantias are excellent cut flowers.
Varieties
Astrantia major ‘Roma’
Astrantia major ‘Roma’ flowers with beautiful soft-pink flowers in mid-summer. It is very long flowering and grows to 70cm tall.
Astrantia major ‘Ruby Star’
Also popular is Astrantia major ‘Ruby Star’. This astrantia bears deep red flowers on black-red stems above deeply cut, dark green leaves. With a height of 1 meter, Astrantia major ‘Ruby Star’ adds height to a border.
Astrantia major ‘Ruby Wedding’
Smaller at 50cm, Astrantia major ‘Ruby Wedding’ produces deep purplish-red flowers. Perfect for the front of the border.
Astrantia major ‘Silver Glow’
For white-flowering consider Astrantia major ‘Silver Glow’ and Astrantia major ‘Large White’.
Astrantia major ‘Shaggy’
Another fine variety includes Astrantia major ‘Shaggy’, with attractive greenish-white flower head and just 60-70 cm high.
Astrantia major ‘Ruby Star’
Pruning
Pruning Astrantia ( masterwort). After flowering, cut back the spent flower stems to encourage more flowers. Tired-looking leaves can also be cut back during the growing season. New fresh foliage will appear. Astrantia will die back naturally overwinter.
How to grow Astrantia
Where to plant astrantias. They perform best in partial shade and like leafy soil that does not dry out. Add plenty of garden compost or leaf mould to the soil before planting astrantias.
They are also resistant to attacks from slugs and snails. More slug-proof plants.
Pests and diseases
Brown-grey patches appear on the leaves of astrantia plants. What can you do about it.
Plant combination
Astrantia companion plants. Astrantias will look great with a range of partners such as Nepeta (catmint), Salvia nemorosa, Geranium.
Salvia caradonna
