Masterwort Rubra

A most attractive flower for early summer borders and cottage garden planting, Astrantia major Rubra is a vigorous, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with strongly lobed, dark green leaves forming a ground covering mound. Charming, deep red flowers with deep red bracts and pincushion centres are borne for a long period from May to July on reddish, wiry, upright stems. Masterwort Rubra is good for bees, and is resistant to rabbits. It seeds about mildly, but cut back flowering stems before seeds set, as seedlings do not come true.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Any reasonably fertile soil, preferably moist and humus-rich
Position: Full sun or partial shade
Season of interest: May to July
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height: up to 3 (90cm) Spread: 20 (50cm)