Astrantia major 'Stardust'

RHS Plant Profile

masterwort 'Stardust'

RHS / Joanna Kossak

Herbaceous Perennial

A clump-forming perennial to around 70cm tall with lobed and toothed leaves. In summer, erect stems bear small clusters of flower heads made up of tiny white flowers surrounded by pinkish-white bractstipped with green

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, 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

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

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

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–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: Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moisture-retentive but well-drained, preferably humus-rich, fertile soil in sun or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildlife gardens
City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds
Cut flowers
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

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 slugs, snails, aphids and astrantia leaf miner

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews