Astrantia major 'Lars'

Astrantia major 'Lars' is a variety of great masterwort or great radiate with almost all summer long tiny flowers gathered in umbels, of a very beautiful intense and sustained red-pink, lightening up a bit at maturity. They are carved like pretty jewels that this plant proudly displays at the end of long stems well above a loose mound of palmate leaves. Graceful and floriferous, this perennial is not very demanding and grows in sun to partial shade, in fresh and fertile soil. It is also a good flower for dry or fresh bouquets.

Astrantia major, native to central and eastern Europe, belongs to the family of Apiaceae (formerly, umbellifers), it is a distant cousin of the carrot. The bushy and quite loose habit serves the elegance of the flowering. 'Lars', from which it originates, forms a clump of 60 to 70cm (24 to 28in) in height when flowering, 50cm (20in) for the foliage, and 45cm (18in) in width. The foliage is dense, composed of deciduous palmate leaves, with 5 deep lobes, lanceolate, toothed, green and strongly veined. The inflorescences in umbels appear from June to August, at the end of very stiff stems. They are smaller than those of the species, composed of dozens of small dark pink flowers surrounded by a collar-like involucre of large purple-red bracts.

Easy to grow, Astrantia major 'Lars' thrives in humus-bearing, fresh and well-drained soil, even clayey, in sunny or partially shady situations, or even in full shade in warm climates. Simple and elegant, masterwort brings a touch of naturalness and refinement to the garden. This plant, very trendy in contemporary arrangements, requires little maintenance, thriving even where the garden is not maintained. It pairs wonderfully with pastel colors. Combine it with perennials and roses in any style of garden: modern, natural or romantic.

Tips: Combine several varieties to create a beautiful palette of colours.