Astrantia major 'Alba'

RHS Plant Profile

masterwort 'Alba'

Synonyms

Astrantia major alba

Herbaceous Perennial

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A herbaceous perennial with leaves palmately divided and stems bearing branching umbels of small neat pale greenish white pincushion flowers with a ruff of greenish bracts in summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

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

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or East–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): H4

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, Columnar upright
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: Not established

How to Grow

Cultivation

Thrives in moist fertile humus-rich soil. Sun will improve the foliage colour.

Propagation

Propagate by division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Gravel garden
Prairie planting
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back after flowering for fresh new foliage and second flowering. Deadhead before seed ripens to prevent self-seeding

Pests

This plant is resistant to slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildew