Perennial
Masterwort
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | Flowers in June | Flowers in July | Flowers in August | |||||||||
| Plant | Plant in March | Plant in April | Plant in September | Plant in October | ||||||||
| Prune | Prune in July | |||||||||||
| Looks good | Looks good in June | Looks good in July | Looks good in August |
Overview
Astrantias have intricate, pincushion flowers, each a tight dome of tiny florets surrounded by a papery ruff of bracts, held on wiry stems above lobed leaves. They last well in a vase and dry nicely. Good varieties include the deep wine-red 'Ruby Wedding' and 'Hadspen Blood', the greenish-white 'Shaggy' with long, pointed bracts, and the small-flowered A. 'Roma' in clear pink, which is sterile and so blooms over a long season.
Where to grow masterwort
Masterwort comes from mountain meadows and woodland edges in central Europe, so it prefers cool, moist, fertile soil. Part shade is ideal; in full sun it needs consistently damp ground. It mixes well with hostas, geraniums and ferns in a lightly shaded border.
Planting
Plant in spring or autumn 40–45 cm apart in soil enriched with compost or leaf mould. Water thoroughly and mulch to retain moisture.
Care through the year
Spring
Mulch generously and guard young shoots against slugs.
Summer
Water in dry weather, as plants that dry out stop flowering and the leaves brown. Cut back the first flush of stems once they fade.
Autumn
Cut down remaining stems once they brown, or leave a few seed heads.
Winter
Plants are dormant; no protection required.
Pruning
After the first flowering, cut spent stems and tatty leaves back to the base. Fresh foliage and a second, lighter crop of flowers usually follow. Deadheading also limits self-seeding, which can produce muddy-coloured offspring.
Propagation
Divide clumps in spring. Seed needs a period of cold to germinate, so sow it fresh in autumn and leave the pot outdoors over winter. Seedlings from named types vary.
Common problems
Usually healthy. Powdery mildew may appear when plants are dry at the roots. Slugs can damage new growth in spring.
Guides to the problems most likely to affect masterwort:
Something else wrong? Diagnose it by symptom.
Month-by-month reminders
Jobs for this plant come round in March, April, July, September and October. Each month page lists everything else worth doing in the garden at the same time.
Related plants
Sources
Botanical names follow Kew's Plants of the World Online; growing attributes were checked against the references below. Text is our own. See our editorial policy.