Astrantia major Ruby Cloud - Masterwort

Astrantia major 'Ruby Cloud' is a unique and precious variety of masterwort, with a long summer flowering period and blooms that looks like a constellation of stars in a deep and soft pink-purple colour, barely touched with apple green.  Astrantia major is a perennial often seen in cottage gardens, and is so easy to grow that it often finds its way into neglected areas. 'Ruby Cloud' has simple grace and an accommodating nature. A good flower for both dried and fresh bouquets.  It is also a good flower for both dried and 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. It is a herbaceous and deciduous plant, perennial from its stump, very hardy, with vegetation that disappears in winter and reforms in spring. A bushy and fairly loose habit, this plant forms a clump that is 70-80 cm (28-32in) tall in flower, sometimes up to 90 cm (35in) in very favourable conditions, and 45 cm (18in) wide. The foliage is dense, composed of palmate leaves with 5 deep lobes, lanceolate, toothed, strongly veined, and a fairly dark green. The inflorescences of this plant are organized in umbels, which we call flowers. They appear from July to September, at the end of very stiff and branched floral stems. Each one is composed of dozens of small red-purple flowers, surrounded by large bracts in the same burgundy pink colour washed with apple green.

Astrantia major 'Ruby Cloud' grows easily in moist and well-drained soil in sunny, semi-shaded, or even shady positions in warm climates. Very popular in contemporary gardens, it requires little maintenance and thrives even in neglected areas. It is particularly well-suited to the 'cottage' style, in drifts of plantings, as its flowers, which complement ornamental grasses very well, bring texture to the garden. You can also create large rustic bouquets along herbaceous borders, and of course make beautiful fresh or dried floral compositions. It pairs perfectly with perennials (asters, peonies, delphiniums, bellflowers, foxgloves) and roses in natural and/or romantic settings.

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