Astrantia

Growing Guide

Astrantia are an excellent garden plant and cut flower with zigzag petals resembling a Tudor ruff.

Astrantia seeds may benefit from being cold stratified before they germinate. Seeds sown February to May, may benefit from spending 2 weeks in the fridge to replicate cold stratification.

During the February, May, September and October, sow seeds in a greenhouse or cold frame, thinly on the surface of a good quality seed compost, covering with a fine layer of compost and vermiculite to help exclude the sunlight during germination. Make sure your seeds are well-watered and put them in a propagator or polythene bag until germination.

Once the seedlings are well grown with at least 2 sets of true leaves pot on, protecting them from harsh frosts until they are ready to be planted out. Harden off for 7-10 days prior to planting out in March for autumn sown seed and May or June for seed sown that year.

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Remove spent flowers as soon as possible to encourage more flowers to grow. A great flower dried as well as fresh. Astrantia will grow happily in sun or light shade, and whilst it will grow in heavy shade the foilage will become lush but very few flowers will grow.

TOP TIP

Astrantia can be very slow to germinate, do not use artificial heat to try to encourage germination as this will disrupt their natural rhythms. Please be very patient, and even when you've given up hope of germination, keep your seed tray as you will likely be surprised by growth when you least expect it.

Astrantia are a hardy perennial which after 2/3 years can be divided in spring. It is recommended established plants are fed early in the spring and again in the middle of the summer with a good all-purpose soluble fertilizer. Astrantias require very little care. Cut the foliage and flowers hard back in autumn or spring.