If you like eye-catchers in your garden, you should plant the starwort there. Read here which varieties are particularly beautiful and how the masterwort is cared for.
The masterwort (Astrantia) is an absolutely elegant flowering perennial whose impressive, long-lasting flowers make many a gardener's heart beat faster. The Astrantia thrives excellently in semi-shade and can therefore even be planted under various trees without any problems.
Beekeepers love the masterwort
The masterwort grows best in moist soil. In sunnier locations, it must therefore be watered regularly. Bees also like to visit the masterwort. A reason why many beekeepers welcome the cultivation of this plant. (Reading tip: Bees in the garden - 4 tips on how to attract them)
Caring for this plant is much more important than cultivation, because you can only enjoy the beauty of the masterwort if it is optimal. We would therefore like to give you a few tips for caring for the masterwort. But before we do that, here are some of the most beautiful varieties presented.
8 varieties of masterwort presented
A basic distinction is made between the large masterwort, which can grow to a height of up to 80 centimetres, and the small masterwort, which only grows to around 40 centimetres. Several flowers develop simultaneously on a single flower stalk of a star umbel, which in turn have many small individual flowers. A complete umbel is additionally surrounded by a bract wreath. These varieties look particularly beautiful:
❍ Great masterwort (Astrantia major)
| Great masterwort (Astrantia major) | |
|---|---|
| Flower color: | whitishpink |
| Flowering: | June - August |
| Growth: | 50 - 60 cm |
| Growth: | 40 - 50 cm |
| Location: | Sun to partial shade |
| Floor: | permeable, rich in nutrients |
Large masterwort - also called masterwort major, with white to pink flowers, beautifulShade shrub
❍ Masterwort 'Venice'® (Astrantia major 'Venice'®)
| Masterwort 'Venice'® (Astrantia major 'Venice'®) | |
|---|---|
| Flower color: | ruby red |
| Flowering: | June - July |
| Growth: | 50 - 60 cm |
| Growth: | 35 - 40 cm |
| Location: | Penumbra |
| Floor: | permeable, rich in humus and nutrients, loamy-sandy |
This variety is particularly bee-friendly, easy to care for and robust - indispensable as a flower decoration.
❍ Masterwort 'Ruby wedding' (Astrantia major 'Ruby Wedding')
| Masterwort 'Ruby wedding' (Astrantia major 'Ruby Wedding') | |
|---|---|
| Flower color: | dark red |
| Flowering: | June - August |
| Growth: | 40 - 50 cm |
| Growth: | 40 - 50 cm |
| Location: | Penumbra |
| Floor: | fresh to moist, well-drained, rich in humus and nutrients |
Early flowering variety, suitable as a bedding plant and for planting under trees.
❍ Masterwort 'Rosea' (Astrantia maxima 'Rosea')
| Masterwort 'Rosea' (Astrantia maxima 'Rosea') | |
|---|---|
| Flower color: | white to pink |
| Flowering: | May - August |
| Growth: | 70 - 100 cm |
| Growth: | 40 - 50 cm |
| Location: | Sun to partial shade |
| Floor: | loamy sandy, rich in humus and nutrients |
Upright, clumpy growth. The outer leaves of the flowers are typically star-shaped.
❍ Great masterwort 'Roma'® (Astrantia major 'Roma'®)
| Great masterwort 'Roma'® (Astrantia major 'Roma'®) | |
|---|---|
| Flower color: | strong dusky pink, silvery |
| Flowering: | June - October |
| Growth: | 40 - 70 cm |
| Growth: | 20 - 45 cm |
| Location: | Penumbra |
| Floor: | moist, permeable, rich in humus and nutrients |
The master masterwort 'Roma'® is resistant to snails and blooms profusely at night.
❍ Great masterwort 'Rubra' (Astrantia major'Rubra')
| Large Masterwort 'Rubra' (Astrantia major 'Rubra') | |
|---|---|
| Flower color: | pink to red |
| Flowering: | June - August |
| Growth: | 40 - 50 cm |
| Growth: | 40 - 50 cm |
| Location: | Penumbra |
| Floor: | permeable, high humus and nutrient requirement |
The masterwort 'Rubra' prefers fresh soil and should be cut back in autumn.
❍ Masterwort 'Moulin Rouge'® (Astrantia major 'Moulin Rouge'®)
| Masterwort 'Moulin Rouge'® (Astrantia major 'Moulin Rouge'®) | |
|---|---|
| Flower color: | crimson |
| Flowering: | June - July |
| Growth: | 40 - 50 cm |
| Growth: | 30 - 40 cm |
| Location: | Penumbra |
| Floor: | fresh, permeable, rich in humus and nutrients |
The flowers of the masterwort 'Moulin Rouge'® shine in bright red and grow up to 10 cm in size.
❍ Great masterwort 'Lars' (Astrantia major 'Lars')
| Masterwort 'Large Masterwort 'Lars' (Astrantia major 'Lars') | |
|---|---|
| Flower color: | crimson |
| Flowering: | May - September |
| Growth: | 50 - 60 cm |
| Growth: | 40 - 50 cm |
| Location: | Sun to partial shade |
| Floor: | nutrient-rich, fresh to moist, well-drained |
The flowers of the masterwort 'Moulin Rouge'® shine in bright red and grow up to 10 cm in size.
Care tips for the masterwort
In principle, the masterwort is extremely undemanding, which is why it is often found in public gardens. Nevertheless, here are a few care tips for hobby gardeners:
- Star umbels should always be planted in slightly moist soil that is as rich in humus as possible. Alternatively, you can enrich a normal soil accordingly.
- In late autumn you should cut off all the spent stems.
- After flowering, which can last from May to October depending on the variety, the masterwort multiplies by self-sowing. You can also multiply it by division. Just take an offshoot of thePerennial and plant it again in a different location. (Reading tip: Propagating plants - 4 techniques)
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