Astrantia major
Astrantia major
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
Astrantia major grows best in areas with cooler summers, where night-time temperatures consistently fall below 20°c[1]. Plants are winter hardy to at least -17°c[2]. Prefers a fertile moisture-retentive soil[2]. Succeeds in most well-drained soils[3] in full sun or part shade[2, 3]. Succeeds in an open woodland and along the sides of streams so long as the soil is well above the water level[2]. When well-suited, plants can spread very freely by means of underground runners[3]. There are some named varieties, selected for their ornamental value[2]. The flowers are sometimes dried and used for winter decoration[2].
Propagation
Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[2]. Sow stored seed as early in the year as you can obtain it. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. If you have sufficient seed then it can be sown in situ either as soon as it is ripe or in the following spring. Division in spring. Large clumps can be planted out straight into their permanent positions. Smaller clumps are best potted up and kept in a cold frame until they are growing away well and can then be planted out in the summer. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Astrantia+major>
Pollinators
Beetles, Insects
References
- [1]KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder — Missouri Botanical Garden · http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/ ↩︎Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
- [2]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
- [3]Perennial Garden Plants — Thomas. G. S. · J. M. Dent & Sons, London. · 1990 · ISBN 0 460 86048 8 ↩︎A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
- [4]Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. — Chiej. R. · MacDonald · 1984 · ISBN 0-356-10541-5 ↩︎Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.