Astrantia is native to Europe and Western Asia. A beautiful plant, resistant, cold hardy, and easy to grow with which you can create low maintenance borders and flowerbeds. It is a herbaceous perennial belonging to the family of Umbelliferae (carrot family) that reaches a maximum of 60-70 cm in height. Keep reading this article to learn How To Grow Astrantia!
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Difficulty: Easy
Other Names: Masterwort, Greater Masterwort, Melancholy Gentleman, Hattie’s Pincushion
Soil pH: Slightly acidic to Neutral
Popular Varieties
Equipped with bushy, large dark green foliage and small inflorescences in the shade of red and pink, which remain on the Astrantia from summer to fall. Here are some popular varieties.
- Astrantia Maxima
- Astrantia Carniolica
- Great Masterwort (Astrantia major)
- Astrantia Bavarica
- Astrantia Minor
How to Grow Astrantia
Propagation
Growing astrantia is possible from seeds or by the division of the clump in the spring or fall. For growing astrantia from seeds sow them directly on the ground or in a seed tray in the fall or early spring after having placed the seeds in the refrigerator for 6 weeks as they require cold stratification to germinate. Optimum seed germination temperature is around 60 F (15C).
Planting Astrantia
Locate the planting space where you want to plant Astrantia. Till the soil to a depth of 10 cm, amend it with 2 inches of compost, which gives the soil nutrition and helps in drainage. Dig a hole on the ground, two times wider than the root ball of your astrantia plant but place the plant at the same depth as it was in the container. Space each plant 18 inches apart.
Requirements for Growing Astrantia
Location
This wild plant is usually grown in cottage gardens. You can grow it in your garden in shaded spots. It needs light to partial shade, shade from burning sun in the hottest hours is essential.
Soil
Astrantia adapts to most of the soil types. It particularly likes soil that is rich in organic matter.
Water
Keep the soil evenly moist always. It requires more regular and frequent watering, especially during a period of hot summer.
Astrantia Care
Mulching
Spread 3 – 4-inch layer of mulch around your astrantias. Mulching helps the soil in retaining moisture and reduces weeds.
Deadheading
Do deadheading to encourage the plant for more flowers. If you want to collect seeds or multiply them, leave some blooms at the end of the season and let them seed.
Fertilizer
Feed the plant in spring with a balanced, liquid fertilizer. Apply according to label instructions. Mulch in the fall with leaf mulch or compost.
Pests and Diseases
Look out for aphids, and slugs that are very fond of the leaves of masterwort. In terms of disease, it is subject to powdery mildew.
Check out our article 15 Herbs You Can Grow from Spice Rack here
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