Astrantia major Cerise Button - Masterwort

Astrantia major 'Cerise Button' is a recent variety of masterwort with a beautifully coloured and long-lasting flowering. Its flowers in shades of raspberry pink to cherry red resemble those of Astrantia Washfield, but these flowers are much more vigorous and floriferous. The vibrant colours give the flowers the appearance of jewellery set with gemstones. Astrantia major is a perennial accustomed to cottage gardens, it is a native plant that thrives in slightly neglected, shady and cool places. It is also a good flower for dry or fresh bouquets.

Astrantia major, native to central and eastern Europe, belongs to the Apiaceae family (formerly Umbellifers), it is a distant relative of the carrot. This plant is the origin of many cultivars and hybrids, including the 'Cerise Button' variety, selected by Marco Van Noort in the Netherlands. In this variety, the bushy and dense habit displays elegant and abundant flowers. The plant forms a clump 60-65 cm (24-26in) high when in flower, 45-50 cm (18-20in) for the foliage, and 45 cm (18in) wide. The foliage is composed of deciduous, palmate leaves with 5 deep lobes, lanceolate, toothed, green and strongly veined. The umbel flowers appear from June to August-September, at the end of very stiff stems. They are composed of dozens of tiny flowers in a deep raspberry pink, surrounded by large pearly bracts with cherry red reflections.

Astrantia major 'Cerise Button' grows in humus-rich, moist and well-drained soil, in sunny but not scorching or semi-shaded, even shady in warm climates. This plant, very popular in contemporary gardens, requires little maintenance, thriving even where the garden is not well-maintained. It blends beautifully with the pastel colours of foxgloves, columbines, lungworts... Combine it with perennials and roses in any style of garden: modern, natural or romantic.

Tips: Combine several varieties to create a beautiful colour palette.