Astrantia major - Masterwort

Astrantia major, also known as masterwort, is one of those perennials symbolic of botanical gardens. It seems to appear from nowhere in the garden, its unusual delicate flowers are white to pinkish, slightly shaded with green nuances. Its timeless charm operates all summer long.  Native to our mountainous regions, it has an accommodating and hardy nature. It blends perfectly with pastel flowers in perennial beds and looks good in dried or fresh bouquets.

Astrantia major, native to Central and Eastern Europe, belongs to the Apiaceae family (formerly known as Umbellifers), and is a distant relative of the carrot. The bushy and somewhat loose habit displays elegant flowering. The plant forms a clump of 60 cm (24in) in height when in bloom, 45 cm (18in) for the foliage, and 45 cm (18in) wide. The foliage is dense, composed of palmate deciduous leaves, with 5 deep lobes, lanceolate, toothed, green, and strongly veined. The flowers in umbels appear from June to August, sometimes even in September, at the tips of very stiff stems. They are composed of dozens of small flowers of soft and vaired shades of white, pink, and dark green, surrounded by a collar of large bracts, also white and pointed with green.

Easy to grow, Astrantia major thrives in humus-rich, moist, and well-drained soil in sunny, semi-shady, or even shady positions in hot climates. This ancient plant, very popular in contemporary gardens, requires little maintenance and thrives even where the garden is not maintained. It is particularly well suited to the 'cottage' style in swathes of planting, as its flowers, which complement ornamental grasses, bring texture. You can also create large rustic displays along herbaceous borders and, of course, make pretty fresh or dried floral arrangements. It blends perfectly with perennials and roses in natural and/or romantic settings.

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