About
The 'Sparkling Stars' variety of Astrantia features reddish-pink blooms with lighter pink inner petals resembling pincushions. These flowers emerge from mid to late summer, drawing in bees and butterflies.
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
- South-facing, North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 0.5-1 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden, City and courtyard gardens, Gravel garden, Wildlife gardens
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 or propagate by division in spring
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to Astrantia leaf miner
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to powdery mildews