Astrantia Roma
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
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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.
Alistair, you’re right people are busy, the gardens need much time to maintenance. I know your back garden is pretty as a little paradise.
So thanks for your advice to grow astrantia, I will read if it grows well here in 5a zone with cold and frost winters. I do like how astrantia looks.
Hi Nadezda, I hope Astrantia can cope with your harsh Winter, it would make a great addition.
I agree Alistair, I have several astratias and I love them all, I have found the ones I have divided to grow on well and soon bulk up again,
it is a shame about bare hard landscaping that seems to have been popular with developers since the 1960s, the estate I grew up on was built between the wars and was very well landscaped, plenty of green, original trees left where possible, the estate my children grew up on built in the 1960s/70s, had some green though mainly grass with the occasional tree, and since then new developments seem to have become less and less green,
the old village looks very pretty, that’s where you and Myra should be living, as you say you can create your own little paradise, when I bought some gardening DVDs last year I bought the Geoff Hamilton collection, one is a series called Paradise gardens, I thought it was going to be about exotic gardens but it is not, it is about how people have created their own little bit of paradise, some in very challenging situations, flats, city centre yards, it also has lots of inspiration, there is a book too as I have borrowed it from Stornoway library, I know if anyone can do it you and Myra can, and when your neighbours see what you have done some may follow, Frances
Thanks for your input Frances, I really appreciate it.Just got a load of perennial plants delivered, will have to wait until this cold spell has passed before getting them planted up.
Astrantia is one of my absolute favourite flowers, but I don’t have good luck with them. My garden is way too dry, so they are always rather sad (or expire altogether). This year I am going to try out a new location that may just be a bit more moist. Fingers crossed I have better luck! Your pictures are beautiful by the way.
I find the modern subdivision a bit start to be honest. It seems cold and lifeless (although I am sure the interiors are nice). I much prefer the old part of your town.
Hi Jennifer, if I had shown more pictures of the old village the contrast would have stood out even more.
I loved astratias when I gardened in England, such a pretty slug-proof cottage-garden perennial. I don’t like its common name, masterwort. I don’t grow them here, but you have motivated me to try some in pots this year. Your village is very pretty. I agree there should be more landscaping in new developments. I noticed on my last visit that many are paving their front gardens in England now for parking purposes — not attractive, but understandable, I guess. P. x
Its understandable in some cases Pam, others think gardening is such a chore, and find hard landscaping a good option.
Hello Alistair, I have various Astrantias dotted about the garden but none are this variety. I do love the flowers themselves, but the ones I have smell awful, really awful, it’s a real shame. Regarding new developments, with people not having time and the developers cramming houses in as tightly as possible, there’s no room left for grass verges, trees and other landscaping and planting. It’s a shame, but I can’t see it changing. The old part of the village is much prettier and has a lot more character.
Hi Sunil, Its true Astrantia is not noted for its fragrance. As for old village versus new, it’s my goal to make our little corner shine.
What a difference between old and new! It is true that many people think of gardening only as a chore and would prefer not to do it. I have met many people like this, and they are appalled when I tell them how large my garden is. These same people have no connection to the earth and think it is perfectly fine to kill all bugs. I hope to create just a crack in their hardline thinking, hoping that someday they will get a chance to put a plant in the ground, or a pot, and find out what they are missing. Meanwhile, I need to find out more about astrantia and if it can grow in my part of the world!
Ah Debs, a kindred spirit.
Such a sad, sterile world without plants and birds and bees and butterflies.
Good luck!
Strangely enough, it’s the house of our dreams. As for the outside space, I will do everything in my power to make changes and encourage others to do likewise.
I love the pincushion shape of those flowers. You obviously have a way with these particular plants. It’s a shame so many people dispense entirely with gardens. Hope you get the chance to plant some trees.
I am on a mission catmint.
me too …
I’ve never grown Astrantia, though I’ve always thought it to be so pretty! The street does look so bare. I’m surprised that there isn’t at least a tree or something. Isn’t having greenery about good for one’s health, as well?
Hi Indie
Yes, I find trees a necessity. Around our own garden, we have planted 14 deciduous trees. Hard to encourage others to plant even one.
I left a comment here but it seems to have vanished. I seem to be having problems with comments on WordPress blogs – so rather than re-write my comment, I’ll simply say ‘hello’ and hope this time that it ‘sticks’.
Hi Lucy
Sorry about that I had to change my domain provider which resulted in my site being restored to an earlier date and therefore losing a few comments.