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Herbaceous Perennial

Astrantia major 'Rubra'
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

masterwort 'Rubra'

A clump-forming perennial up to 90cm high with deeply lobed, toothed, dark green leaves, dark red-green stems, and umbels of dark plum-coloured pincushion-like flowers surrounded by a ruff of dark red bracts from early to late summer

Synonyms
Astrantia rubra
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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.5–1 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Poorly–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Red Green
Summer Red Pink Red Green
Autumn Red Green
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H7
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

Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist, fertile, preferably humus-rich soil (incorporate plenty of organic matter when planting if necessary) in partial shade, or in sun if the soil stays reasonably moist in summer; mulch with organic matter in spring

Propagation

Propagate by division in autumn or spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Prairie planting
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

No pruning required, but cutting faded flowers back to the ground will encourage further flowers

Pests

May be susceptible to astrantia leaf miner

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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