PERENNIAL FOCUS

from The Growing Concern April 2021

by Sandy Munley

DIRECTIONS

Astrantia carniolica ‘Rubra,’ closeup.

BOBBIE SCHWARTZ, FAPLD

Bobbie’s Green Thumb

ASTRANTIA

MASTERWORT

The plant world offers the landscape designer or contractor many solutions for a shady environment. One of my favorites is Astrantia. Long blooming perennials for the shade are scarce but Astrantia will bloom from June until September or October if deadheaded.

There are two species of Astrantia, A.major (Great Masterwort) and A.carniolica (Lesser Masterwort) which is a bit slower to become established. They differ mainly in size. The deeply lobed and toothed basal leaves of Astrantia major form a rosette 18 inches in diameter while those of Astrantia carniolica form a rosette only 9 to 12 inches in diameter at maturity. Each plant sends up several stalks and each of them branches near the top with each cluster holding 2 or 3 flowers.

The flowers of Astrantia major are surrounded by a collar of bracts which lend a strawflower-like effect. They are usually 18 inches high and vary in color from the greenish-white of the species to the rosy pink of A.major ‘Rose Symphony’ to the dark red of A.m. ‘Lars’. A.m. ‘Shaggy’ (also known as ‘Margery Fish’) has flowers with an extra long collar of pink bracts. Those of A.carniolica are only 6 to 8 inches high. The only cultivar of this species is ‘Rubra’ which is also dark red. Both species seed prolifically, particularly in moist areas. Allan Armitage says that there is quite a bit of variation in the seedlings but all of mine have come true so far. I do find that A. major seems to overwhelm A. carniolica if grown side by side. Ah well, live and learn.

While a semi-shaded moist area is the most desirable habitat for Astrantia, I have grown it in both sun and part shade gardens that are irrigated on a regular basis. It performs very well in both. It will also do quite well in dry shade once established.

Astrantia is also an excellent perennial for the cutting garden. The cut flowers will last in water for 10 to 14 days. They would probably also dry well if cut upon opening. The deadheads are very attractive during the winter. continued on page 10

continued from page 8

Astrantia major ‘Lars’, growing in full sun in a display garden at Floriade in 2012.

This is an easy plant to propagate: by division in autumn or early spring from seed. The biggest problem in dividing it is the tenacity of the fibrous root system. You need a very sharp spade and, preferably, a strong human to wield the spade. Although easily propagated, this is not an aggressive perennial. The roots do spread over time.

Deer never bother it and weeds are few and far between because of the mat-like nature of the root system.

Astrantia lends itself to almost any shady garden combination. Most of mine has combined well in a cottage gardenlike setting with Adenophora (Ladybells) and Aquilegia (Columbine) where they all reseed and do their own thing, so to speak. In a more composed situation, Primula ‘Pacific Hybrids’ could be planted in the foreground for spring color with one of the pink Astrantia major cultivars as the midground long bloomer and Astilbe thunbergii ‘Professor van der Wielen’ in the background for extra August color.

Astrantia could also be used in conjunction with an ornamental grass. I planted Astrantia carniolica ‘Rubra’ in front of Panicum virgatum ‘Rotstrahlbusch’ for a bit of color echo; the dark red flowers emphasize the red tinge of the Panicum foliage. Another good combination would be one of the white Astrantias with Corydalis lutea. Both would bloom for a very long time and the delicate foliage of the Corydalis would provide an excellent textural contrast.

Unfortunately, Astrantia is not commonly available but it is worth searching for if you want a tough perennial as a groundcover that defeats weeds.

Alchemilla mollis and Allium christophii and Allium nigrum interspersed between Astrantia clumps gives this vignette color before mid-June when the Astrantia begins to bloom.

Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, owner of Bobbie’s Green Thumb in Shaker Hts., Ohio, is a landscape designer, consultant, freelance writer, and lecturer whose specialties are perennial gardens and four season landscapes. In addition to being an Ohio Landscape Association (OLA) member, she is an active member of the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA) and Perennial Plant Association (PPA). Bobbie is a Past President of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD).

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