The four gardens which we have had since 1969 have all had Astrantias. Astrantia Roma is up there with the best of them.

Performance in our garden

Astrantia Roma bloomed in our back garden from late May until Autumn’s end.

The bees like it, the butterflies like it and I am told slugs hate it, how good can it get. Mind you, I am not totally convinced regarding the slugs. (Google tells me that slugs like the fresh new growth only)

I constantly removed dead flowers and stems which resulted in a very long flowering period.

I would have no hesitation in recommending Astrantia Roma. In fact, I can’t get enough of Astrantias.

This year I am going to concentrate mainly on adding new perennials to the garden. When I run out of border space others will be planted in tubs.

Plant description

Astrantia Roma, the ideal perennial for the country garden or for that matter anywhere that takes your fancy, in the border or in a container. Hybrid from parent plant Astrantia Maxima

They do however prefer a semi-shaded position where the soil does not dry out. Astrantia will grow in full sun if you water freely.

Astrantia blooms have a pincushion appearance, the flowers of Roma are a clear deep shade of pink with silvery pink outer bracts.

The sturdy flower stems are held above the dark green cut foliage.

 

 

I suspect Astrantias may flower for a longer period in the cooler Summers which Scotland have to offer, blooming from early Summer until late Autumn in our Fife garden. (don’t forget to deadhead though)

Although it is sometimes suggested that Astrantias do not like being lifted and divided, I have had great success doing this in early Spring and late Autumn. (keep good sized divisions)

• Hardiness – fully hardy in all areas of the UK (central highlands?)

• Height – approx 60cm/2ft

• Soil – alkaline/acid/neutral (MOIST)

• Position – sun/partial shade (keep well watered in full sun)

• common name – masterwort

• Propagating – divide in early Spring or Autumn. Seedlings will grow freely but will not be true to type.

• Flowering period – early Summer until Autumn (deadhead frequently)

• RHS Award of garden merit

Mail order 

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Coaltown of Wemyss

Our village, its friendly, people are all proud and happy with their new homes. The interiors are indeed comfortable, modern and finished to a high standard.

So, what’s the problem, very little really? It’s not as if I cant turn our own personal space around our property into a little paradise.

Open the door and take a walk down the road, the new small development looks like it will always be this way. Sort of barren in appearance. People are so busy, many of them didn’t want gardens, paving is the order of the day. No trees and generally lacking in greenery, not very attractive, and guess what, before I retired I was very busy!

The solution, councils should only give the go-ahead to new housing developments providing the developers carry out a reasonable amount of landscaping.

Knock on my door! I won’t buy it, but I will plant that tree for you.

Take a short walk to the old part of the village, much more uplifting

Pictures were taken on the 1st of November.

© 2018, Alistair. All rights reserved.