Astrantias – A Comparison

A pure white, green-tipped, large flowered astrantia from the ‘Star’ breeding program. We have examined this closely this year and it looks for all the world exactly like ‘Shaggy’, the excellent old variety selected by Margery Fish. It is a fine plant but were as yet unsure why it merits its own name and PBR status.

Astrantia major ‘Sunningdale Variegated’. Pretty yellow variegated leaf form of Masterwort originating in 1966. Leaves form a dense mound which is a delight in the Spring garden. Each leaf is generously margined with a yellow border which whitens first with age and then turns green later in the summer so that the plant appears non variegated. Collared flowers, which dry excellently, are white tinted green with a slight hint of pink. One of the tallest of the Astrantia major cultivars at 75cm Happy in sun or part shade with some drainage.

Astrantia major ‘Sunningdale Variegated’

Beautiful perennial with attractive collared flowers which dry excellently. This is a particularly floriferous and strong growing variety with classic colouring. Each flower of Astrantia ‘Buckland’ is relatively flat with bracts that are white, tinged green at the tip, and age pink. The central boss is generous, pink with a dark pink stain at the centre. 75cm Happy in sun or part shade with some drainage

These are just odd seedling forms of this lovely perennial. They tend to be pale in the collar with a pink central boss, no less lovely than their named cousins, just without the pedigree. They are ideal for growing in a cool shady spot where they will quickly fill out and seed themselves around.

Astrantia ‘Moulin Rouge’ is a recently selected large flowered dark red masterwort. Tight clusters of maroon flowers are surrounded by beautiful ray florets. An interesting & beautiful plant happy in sun or part shade with some drainage

Regarded as perhaps the darkest red Astrantia with a superb maroon/mahogany tipped red collar. Dark maroon stems and similarly tinted foliage. 50cm. At its best in June but smaller flushes of flowers reoccur throughout the season. Worth deadheading to encorage new flowers and to prevent inferior seedlings taking over the clump. For sun or partial shade. Responds to good treatment and feeding. originally raised by Nori Pope in 1988 at Hadspen Gardens in Somerset by crossing Astrantia major with Astrantia maxima.

Astrantia major ‘Ruby Star’ is another excellent addition to the red Astrantias. Not so dark as some, but a good strong ruby red with fine dark stems and a good flat starry shape. 30cm