Astrantia major seeds – (Great Masterwort)

Description

This plant is both long flowering and long lived. It has very showy star shaped heads from which  pink,  green or white bracts radiate wafting a sweet scent . Each blossom is an umbel of tiny flowers surrounded by a whorl of papery bracts.  It flowers continuously throughout summer and autumn. It prefers part shade and rich moist soil, with cooler night time temperatures in the summer, and is very useful for that shady spot where many other sun lovers will not grow.  It is not common in most gardens , but should be better known and cultivated according to many knowledgeable gardeners

It is native to Central and Eastern  Europe.

Astrantia make excellent, long lasting cut flowers.

Sowing advice

Moisten a plain kitchen paper towel and squeeze out to eliminate excess moisture. Fold in 4. Into 1 fold place the seeds, and put in a kitchen plastic ziplock bag or similar together with a plastic plant tag with the day’s date. Seal the plastic bag loosely. Keep at 18-22 deg C for 2-4 weeks. Now move to -4 to +4 deg C (fridge door) for 4-6 weeks. Inspect for germination every week, and keep moist. If germination occurs carefully lift out the seed and pot up at 5 – 12 deg C, covering lightly with seed raising mix. After 6 weeks, move the remaining ungerminated seeds to 5-12 deg C for germination. Germination can take many months. Once germinated move to a warm place. Transplant seedlings once large enough to handle to 8cm pots. Grow on at 7°C. Acclimatise for 10-15 days and plant out. Can be sown into pots in late autumn and left outside over winter for spring germination.