Astrantia major Primadonna - Great Masterwort

Astrantia major Primadonna is a new variety of Great Masterwort still little found. It stands out with the charming pink-silver colour of its flowering. A cluster of small pink flowers sits in a collar of barely pink, pearly bracts. The timeless charm of this familiar cottage garden plant is evident all summer. The Great Masterwort is easy to grow in moist soil and often self-seeds into neglected places. It has simple grace and an accommodating character. A good flower for dry or fresh bouquets.

Astrantia major, originating from central and eastern Europe, belongs to the apiaceae family (formerly umbellifers), it is a distant cousin of the carrot. It is a herbaceous and deciduous, hardy plant, perennial by its crown, whose vegetation disappears in winter and regrows in spring. The bushy and quite loose habit matches the elegance of the flowers. The plant forms a tuft of 60 cm (24in) high when flowering, and 45 cm (1 and 18in) wide. The dense foliage is composed of palmate leaves, with 5 deep, lanceolate, toothed, strongly veined, fairly dark green lobes. The inflorescences of this plant are organised in umbels, which we call flowers. They appear from June to September, at the end of very stiff and branched floral stems. Each one is composed of dozens of small pink flowers, surrounded by a collar of very pale, barely pink, pearly bracts.

Astrantia major 'Primadonna' grows easily in moist and well-drained soil in sunny, semi-shaded positions or even shade in warm climates. This variety shows great refinement while retaining the charm of wild plants. It is very popular in contemporary gardens and requires little maintenance, thriving even when the garden is neglected. It is particularly well adapted to the 'meadow' style, in mass planting, as its flowers are very complementary to ornamental grasses, bringing texture. You can also create large country compositions along herbaceous borders, and it makes pretty fresh or dried cut flowers. It goes very well with perennials (asters, peonies, delphiniums, bellflowers, foxgloves) and roses in natural and/or romantic gardens.

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