Astrantia maxima

RHS Plant Profile

largest masterwort

Synonyms

Astrantia helleborifolia

Herbaceous Perennial

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An herbaceous perennial to 60cm, forming a clump of plentiful, three-lobed leaves with branching stems bearing flower-heads 3-6cm in width, with broad, pinkish bracts surrounding tiny pink flowers

Position

Full shade, Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Poorly–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full shade Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or East–facing or North–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Apiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Astrantia are clump-forming herbaceous perennials with palmately lobed basal leaves and branched, erect, wiry stems bearing compact umbels of tiny flowers surrounded by a rosette of showy bracts
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Turkey, Caucasus, Iran

How to Grow

Cultivation

Best grown in moist, fertile, humus-rich soil in sun or partial shade but will tolerate drier and shadier conditions

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame as soon as seed is ripe or propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds
Cut flowers

Pruning

Deadhead before seed is ripe to prevent self-seeding

Pests

May be susceptible to astrantia leaf miner

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews