Astrantia major 'Star of Fire'PBR

RHS Plant Profile
masterwort 'Star of Fire'

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Astrantia major 'Star of Fire'PBR?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
Plants for pollinators
Herbaceous Perennial
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
8 Suppliers

A clump-forming perennial to 60cm tall with lobed and toothed leaves forming a bushy mound. Clusters of tiny dark red-purple flowers surrounded by long-lasting bracts tinted purple-red are borne on wiry, dark stems from summer into autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or 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
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Best grown in moist, fertile, preferably humus-rich soil in sun or part shade; drier conditions tolerated

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required, but deadhead to encourage repeat flowering and, if seedlings are not wanted, deadhead before seed is ripe

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, slugs and astrantia leaf miner

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews