Astrantia major Sparkling Stars Red ('Westarr') (Sparkling Stars Series)

RHS Plant Profile

masterwort [Sparkling Stars Red]

Synonyms

Astrantia major 'Westarr'
Astrantia 'Sparkling Stars Red' (Sparkling Stars Series)

Herbaceous Perennial

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An herbaceous perennial with mounds of mid-green leaves. In summer, dark red-purple flowers appear, surrounded by maroon bracts.

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Clay, Chalk

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

Loam Clay Chalk

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

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed
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
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: Trade

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist but well drained humus rich soil.

Propagation

Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame as soon as ripe, or propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back after flowers have faded to tidy and encourage a fresh flush of leaf growth

Pests

Maybe susceptible to astrantia leaf miner, slugs and aphids

Diseases

Maybe susceptible to powdery mildews