About
Astrantia maxima is a herbaceous perennial that reaches a height of up to 60 cm. It develops a dense cluster of three-lobed foliage and produces branching stems topped with flower heads measuring 3-6 cm across. These flower heads are surrounded by wide, pinkish bracts that frame numerous small pink flowers.
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 shade, 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, East-facing, North-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Coastal, Cottage and informal garden
- Native to
- Turkey, Caucasus, Iran
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Best grown in moist, fertile, humus-rich soil in sun or partial shade but will tolerate drier and shadier 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