Astrantia major Florence - Great Masterwort

Astrantia major 'Florence' is a new, charming variety of large masterwort, with large flowers in a very fresh pink. Its tiny pink flowers are surrounded by a large collar of pink-lavender pearly bracts with darker tips. Detailed structure gives the umbels the appearance of opal-paved jewels with changing reflections. Astrantia major is a perennial used in herb gardens, it is an easy native plant to grow in any good garden soil that remains moist. It is also a good flower for dried or fresh bouquets.

Astrantia major, native to central and eastern Europe, belongs to the Apiaceae family (formerly known as umbellifers), it is a distant cousin of the carrot. In the wild, it is found in mountainous areas, growing on clay-rich soils with a tendency towards limestone. It is a perennial plant with a crown, whose above-ground vegetation grows in spring and disappears in winter. This wild masterwort is the origin of many cultivars and hybrids, including the 'Florence' variety, recently introduced to the horticultural market.

In this masterwort, the bushy and quite loose complements the elegance of the flowers. The plant forms a tuft 60 cm (24in) high when in flower, 45 cm (18in) for the foliage, and 35 cm (1 and 14in) wide. The foliage is composed of palmate leaves, with 5 deep, lanceolate, toothed, green and strongly veined lobes. The inflorescences appear from June to July and often again in September, at the end of very stiff stems. They can reach 5 cm (2in) in diameter and are composed of dozens of tiny flowers in a very fresh pink, gathered in a plate, surrounded by a collar of large pearly bracts, with discreet veining on a pink background with mauve highlights.

Astrantia major 'Florence' is easy to grow in most gardens, as long as the soil remains slightly moist in summer. It thrives in sunny or semi-shady positions, and even in full shade in hot climates. This popular plant for contemporary gardens requires little maintenance, thriving even when the garden is not maintained. It blends beautifully with the pastel colours of foxgloves, paniculate phlox, annual poppies, columbines or lungworts. Combine it with perennials such as peonies, daylilies, perennial geraniums, and roses in any style of garden: modern, natural or romantic.

Tip: Combine several varieties to create a beautiful colour palette.