Astrantia is a group of flowers, also known as masterwort, that is both beautiful and unusual. While not common to most gardens, it should be. Take a look at how to care for Astrantia in this article.

One of the darkest-flowered Astrantias, Astrantia major 'Claret' (Masterwort) features dramatic clusters of tiny, deep ruby-red flowers crowded together in a dome-shaped flowerhead, just like pins on a cushion. They are surrounded by an elegant ruff of long papery bracts. The distinctive blooms are borne on nearly black stems, well above the rosette of lush, deeply cut, mid-green leaves that are adorned with burgundy around the edges when young.

Astrantia major 'Abbey Road' (Great Masterwort) is a clump-forming perennial boasting exquisite clusters of tiny, deep reddish-purple flowers crowded together in a dome-shaped flowerhead, just like pins on a cushion. They are surrounded by an elegant ruff of red and cream papery bracts. The delicate blooms are borne on upright, deep purple stems, well above the rosette of deeply divided, coarsely-toothed dark green leaves.

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Underused and uncommon perennials aren’t ordinary perennials. Although they are beautiful or unique, these plants are not often found in local nurseries.

Find Lars Masterwort (Astrantia major 'Lars') in Regina, Saskatchewan (SK) at Dutch Growers Garden Centre (Hattie's Pincushion)

Also known as Hattie's pincushion and Masterwort, Astrantias are summer-flowering perennials that thrive in mixed beds and borders. When Astrantia blooms, it

Astrantia Plants (Masterwort) herbaceous, beautiful colors, leaves with toothed lobes, grouped tightly-packed floret flowers, petal-shaped bracts. [DETAILS]

astrantia & fern

Find out how to grow shade-loving astrantias (Hattie's pincushion, or masterwort) with advice from BBC Gardeners' World Magazine and gardenersworld.com.