Astrantia

( ass - TRANT - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of flowering perennials takes full sun or partial shade and regular water. They are native to meadows and woodland areas of Central, Eastern and Southern Europe and the Caucasus and look great in cottage-style gardens. Also called Masterwort, this plant forms lush, leafy clumps of green and produces flowers surrounded by papery bracts, giving the flowers a bit of a pincushion look. Cut flowers are long-lasting in fresh flower arrangements, and are also great when dried. Masterwort will spread slowly by way of underground runners, and die back to the ground in wintertime. All species need good drainage for best performance. Grow these flowers in mixed beds or borders, in containers, or along pathways.

Astrantia Species and Varietals

The genus Astrantia is in the plant family Apiaceae, and includes 10 species. The best growing zones for Astrantia are 1-9 and 14-24. For more growing information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Astrantia bavarica (Masterwort)
Native to the Eastern Alps, these plants reach 12 inches tall, and just as wide. The species was first described by Friedrich Wilhelm Schultz in 1858. Flowers are greenish-white with pink undertones and bloom April through November.

Astrantia carniolica (Carniolan Masterwort, Red Masterwort)
​Plants in this species rarely surpass 18 inches in height, and produce white (or pink-red) flowers. The specific epithet carniolica refers to a region once called Carnolia (present-day Slovenia). These flowering plants are commonly found in their native range growing in mountains and grasslands, close to streams, and in calcareous soil. Variety 'Rubra' produces red flowers in summertime.
Astrantia major (Great Masterwort)
This species reaches 3 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide, and its varieties have a range of flower colors, from shades of white (the species' true color) to red-pink to purple. Varietals are outlined below.
'Abbey Road'
'Claret'
'Hadspen Blood'
'Ruby Wedding'
​'Sunningdale Variegated'
'Shaggy'

​Astrantia maxima (Largest Masterwort, Hellebore-Leaved Masterwort)
Largest Masterwort is native to Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. This species grows to 35 inches tall and 2 feet wide. Pink bracts sit open, surrounding light pink flowers. These plants were first discovered by botanist Peter Simon Pallas in the year 1790. This species is a great garden addition, and requires some shade and moisture to thrive well.

Astrantia minor (Lesser Masterwort, Small Black Masterwort)
This species is native to France, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland, and forms a clump of foliage. Flowers are commonly white or cream-colored, and bloom in spring and summer.

Caring for Astrantia

Plant Astrantia in a spot in the garden that receives partial sun. They do well when they are in a place that gets between 4 and 6 hours of direct sun each day. The more sun they get, the more flowers they will produce, though they cannot take full sun exposure. They are naturally woodland plants, and appreciate at least filtered shade. The best time of the year to plant Astrantia is in springtime after the last chance of frost has passed. If massing these plants, make sure to plant them between 18 and 24 inches apart for best coverage and airflow. Astrantia prefer well-draining soil; if local soils are compacted, do not drain well, or are particularly poor in nutrients, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic matter or compost before installing. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of plants, ensuring that mulch stays at least a few inches away from the stems. This will increase soil moisture retention, suppress weed growth, and maintain a constant soil temperature.

​To prune, simply remove spent blooms to encourage more to develop. In late fall, after plants have finished flowering, cut all foliage back and mulch around the base of plants to insulate them over the cooler months of the year. Fertilize Astrantia flowers yearly in early springtime using organic compost, pulling back mulch before applying. Work the compost into the soil, water, and then replace mulch around the base of the plant. These plants do not need any additional fertilizing.

Propagation

The best ways to propagate these plants is via seed or division. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, especially if you are harvesting seed from a hybrid cultivar. To propagate your Astrantia flowers, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Astrantia by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows. 
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seeds of Astrantia plants are contained inside of the dried flowering heads of plants, which will turn brown and dry when mature. Once they have dried out completely, cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to release the seeds, and this process can be helped along with some rough handing (shaking of the bag). Once seeds have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
  3. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes between 21 and 30 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
 
Propagating Astilbe by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost, and pots (12 inch pots will do, and these are only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in spring, and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
  1. Gather your materials. Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the roots. Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
  2. Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section.
  3. Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water them in thoroughly.
  4. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout over the spring and summer seasons.
Astrantia seeds are held in dried seed heads.
Astrantia seeds,

Problems and Pests

Astrantia plants do not have any major pest or disease issues. To learn more about commonly encountered landscape diseases and pests, see the following links:
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Gallery

In this border, light pink Astrantia flowers are planted amongst Salvia and Santa Barbara Daisy.
The white flowers of this Astrantia plant are contrasted against the spikes of pink and purple Salvia.
These flowers make beautiful edging for garden walkways.
Astrantia and Polemonium share this mixed bed.
This informal bed features Mexican Feathergrass, Sage, Ornamental Allium, and Silver Grass.
This pollinator mixed bed is filled with Astrantia, Iris, Foxglove, and Achillea.

Videos

How to grow these flowers from seed.
Learn all about these classic garden flowers.
A quick video on these easy-care plants.

Resources

Astrantia Planting and Growing Guide
Astrantia - Growing Guide
Wikipedia: Astrantia
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 178, Astrantia
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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