About
This deciduous perennial reaches a height of 35 cm and features green, divided leaves. From June to September, it produces dark purple-red flowers resembling pincushions, which are encircled by deep red bracts on maroon-red stems.
About the genus
Astrantia is a group of herbaceous perennials that grow in clumps, featuring basal leaves that are palmately lobed. The plants develop upright, slender stems that showcase dense clusters of small flowers, which are encircled by a whorl of prominent bracts.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Poorly-drained
- Aspect
- North-facing, West-facing, South-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Best grown in moist, fertile, humus-rich soil in sun or partial shade but will tolerate drier conditions
- Pruning
- Deadhead before seed is ripe to prevent self-seeding
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame as soon as seed is ripe (cultivars may not come true) or propagate by division in spring
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to astrantia leaf miner
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to powdery mildews