Family Umbelliferae.
Astrantia can be called one of the main perennials of the garden. This is due to the outstanding appearance of this flower, resembling a star, the brightness of its inflorescences, and the duration of flowering. In addition, gardeners appreciate the culture for unpretentiousness, winter hardiness and resistance to diseases and pests.
This plant requires a minimum of attention, time and effort.
The astrantia flower is indispensable in landscape design, as it can be used to create beautiful, original compositions and make the backyard unique. Below in the article are tips for successfully growing this crop in the garden.
Characteristics of perennial astrantia
According to the botanical characteristic astrantia or star (Astrantia) – tall ornamental perennial herbaceous rhizomatous plant. The shoot is erect, slightly leafy, up to 80 cm high.
The main feature in the description of astrantia are rich green leaves resembling wrappers. The leaf plates are green, palmately separate, or palmately lobed, collected in basal rosettes. The inflorescences are simple, medium-sized, shaped like a star, consist of many small flowers of white, pink or pink-ruby hue.
The flowering of the plant begins from the end of May and lasts until September. The fruit is two-seeded.
Science does not know where the name of this plant came from, there is only an assumption that it consists of the words “astron”, which means “star” and “antion” – “opposite”. If the first part of the name is clear, then the second is most likely associated with the shape of the leaves of this flower.
This culture is otherwise called “star”, which is fully explained by the inflorescence in the shape of a star.
The description of the astrantia is supplemented by a photo in which you can see all the distinguishing features of this culture:
Under natural conditions, the plant grows in Eurasia, Asia Minor and the Caucasus. It settles on the edges of broad-leaved forests, in open sunny areas, glades, subalpine meadows.
Popular types and varieties of astrantia with a photo
In total, there are about 10 types of starfish in the world, but only 4 of them are popular in horticulture. In addition, varieties have been bred in garden varieties of astrantia, the description and photos of which are presented below.
Astrantia large (A. major) – a plant up to 80 cm high and about 40 cm in diameter. Leaf plates are long-petiolate, three-seven-parted, bright green, collected in a basal rosette. The flowers are pale pink, collected in an inflorescence – a simple umbrella with a diameter of 5 cm.
In the wild, the flower grows in open places, in meadows and edges of deciduous and coniferous forests.
Varieties of astrantia large:
“Moulin rouge” -spectacular variety with wine-red inflorescences and leaf wrappers of dark, almost black color. Particularly beautiful bushes of this variety, grown in open, sunny areas.
“Claret” -one of the most beautiful varieties of astrantia with burgundy flowers and transparent burgundy leaf wrappers. Plant height reaches about 60 cm. Flowering begins in the first decade of July, lasts until the end of September. This variety prefers shady areas. Suitable for growing in a container.
“Ruby Wedding” -variety with bright red flowers, about 70 cm high. Designed for growing in shady places.
“Diva” – a variety with dark red flowers and light wrappers. The height of the plant reaches 70 cm. The culture is unpretentious, it can be equally successfully grown both in a sunny and in a shaded place.
“Lars” – a variety with rich pink inflorescences, about 80 cm high.
“Rozensymphony” – a plant with bright pink inflorescences and pale pink wrappers. The height reaches about 75 cm.
“Sunningdale Variegata” – a flower with light lavender inflorescences. A feature of the variety are green leaf plates with cream and golden strokes on the surface.
“Snowstar” – a plant with white inflorescences and white-green wrappers. It can reach a height of 50 to 70 cm. It grows well in shaded and dark areas.
“Abby Road” – inflorescences of purple color, wrappers – dark red.
The largest astrantia (A. maxima) is a perennial flower with a long strong rhizome and tripartite leaves, 70-90 cm high. The inflorescences are umbellate, about 4.5 cm in diameter. The flowers are small, pale pink. Leaves-wrappers are light, pink, membranous, up to 1 cm in length. This species blooms from August to September.
Astrantia small (A. minor) – a plant with slightly branched stems about 70 cm high. Leaf blades are long-petiolate, three to seven-parted. Inflorescences are umbellate, 3 cm in diameter, with numerous pink-white flowers. Flowering from July to August.
Astrantia karniolskaya – (A. carniolica) -perennial with opposite palmately separated leaves and inflorescences – umbrellas with numerous white flowers.
In horticulture, the variety of Astrantia Carniola “Rubra” is known, which has bright pink flowers and wrappers of the same shade. Plant height is 70 cm. Flowering begins in the third decade of May and ends in the third decade of June.
Much less often in horticulture, such types of astrantia as hellebore, three-cut, Bavarian are grown.
Features of growing and caring for astrantia with a photo
Zvezdovka is successfully grown by both experienced gardeners and beginners, since a feature of the culture is its unpretentiousness and good endurance. When growing astrantia, you need to take into account that it prefers partial shade, and any garden soil is suitable for it.
Usually, at moderate air temperatures and the absence of heat, the plant does not need watering. With prolonged drought, the flower also does not require an abundance of moisture and may well grow and develop successfully. However, this will affect the flowering of the atrantia. Most likely, in such conditions, it will bloom no more than once per summer. If the grower wishes to re-bloom, then he must ensure that the soil around the bushes is always slightly damp throughout the growing season.
The soil around the bushes after artificial irrigation and rain needs to be loosened, weeds removed. To reduce watering and prevent the appearance of weeds, mulching the site with peat, plant residues or humus will help. In order for the decorative effect of the astrantia garden flower to last as long as possible, faded inflorescences should be removed in a timely manner. After the first flowering, it is better to cut off all the inflorescences to stimulate the emergence of new inflorescences. The bush will look fresh and well-groomed.
Only once at the beginning of the spring period, plants are fed with complete mineral fertilizer, but only if it was planted in fertilized soil. If the flower grows on poor soil, another top dressing will be required in the middle of summer with a fertilizer containing phosphorus and potassium. Liquid fertilizers are ideal. If dry ones are used, then top dressing must be accompanied by abundant watering.
At one place, the astrantia plant is grown for 5 – 7 years, after which the bushes are planted. If the bushes have grown strongly, they are tied to a support so that they do not fall apart.
Young, immature plantings of varietal plants in central Russia are prepared in advance for the winter season. This work begins with the onset of the first frost. The stems are cut to the level of the soil. The bushes are sprinkled with a layer of mulch in the form of peat or humus. For shelter use dense fabric, straw or spruce branches. Adults are hardy and can easily endure the winter without shelter.
The following photos will help you understand the features of growing astrantia on a personal plot and see the intricacies of this process:
Propagation of a garden flower of astrantia
A distinctive feature of this perennial is its ability to self-sow, but at the same time, the gardener needs to be prepared for the fact that seedlings will partially retain varietal parental characteristics. For this reason, it is better to use other methods of culture propagation.
One way is to sow freshly harvested seeds. This work is carried out before winter. In the spring, seedlings appear and the task of the gardener is to thin them out, and then carry out the usual care.
Most often, astrantia is planted with seedlings, then it is cared for in the open field, but before sowing the seeds in containers, they are stratified. After the autumn harvest, the seeds are placed in a cool place for 2-3 months. After the specified period, stratified seeds are placed in boxes with light nutrient soil, distributing evenly over the surface. Deepening is not necessary. Sprinkle the seeds on top with a small layer of earth. Crops are covered with film or glass and cleaned in a warm place with a temperature of 20 – 25 degrees. When the first shoots hatch, the shelter is removed.
The boxes are cleaned in a room well lit by the sun and systematic care is carried out in the form of watering and loosening the soil. After a couple of weeks, the grown plants need to be thinned out and cared for until they are properly established.
After the appearance of the first pair of leaves, the seedlings dive in separate containers into the same soil mixture in which the seedlings were grown. 1.5 – 2 weeks before planting astrantia in the ground, they carry out such care: they take pots with grown plants into the garden or onto the balcony, gradually increasing the hours of their stay in the fresh air. This is how crops are hardened. Seedlings are planted in the soil only when the plants are fully grown and accustomed to new conditions. As a rule, this is done in late May – early June after the establishment of warm weather.
Planting an astrantia flower is possible both in an open area illuminated by the sun’s rays, and in the shade or partial shade. When planting, a distance of 30–40 cm is left between the bushes, they are not deeply buried in the soil, leaving the roots close enough to the surface. After planting, the soil around the plants is compacted and watered.
The flowering of astrantia grown in this way can be observed after 3 years.
Rhizomes propagate 4-5-year-old plants in April or September. Bushes carefully dig and divide the root nests. After that, the delenki are seated in the holes, after adding humus to them. The distance between the bushes should be at least 30 cm. This method of propagation is used when it is necessary to preserve the signs of rare varieties.
Problems when growing astrantia in the garden
Very rarely, perennial astrantia is affected by pests and diseases, and the gardener almost never experiences any special problems when growing it. But with improper care, the strength of the plant runs out and it weakens. So, excessive watering leads to the fact that the soil around the flower does not have time to dry out, and this causes the development of fungus or rotting of the plant.
Affected astrantias need to be treated with fungicides:
“Abiga Peak”,containing copper oxychloride, which has a wide spectrum of action;
“Strobirulin” – can be used after planting an astrantia flower and when caring for it, suitable for the prevention and elimination of fungal diseases of horticultural crops;
“Acrobat MC” – a broad-spectrum drug. Kills diseases such as dry spotting, powdery mildew and late blight;
Alirin-B – a biological fungicide that has proven its effectiveness in the fight against fungi, powdery mildew, root rot, late blight and other diseases.
“Gliocladin” -an organic fungicide that kills fungal pathogens in the soil.
It happens that it is no longer possible to eliminate the disease and save the plant. In this case, dig up the plant, burn and disinfect the area. Such work will help to avoid the disease of neighboring plants.
The main pest of the flower is the naked slug, which, when it hits the plant, begins to eat its foliage. When a harmful insect is found, it is collected in a container and destroyed. With the mass appearance of naked slugs, the drug “Thunder” is used.
To prevent the occurrence of diseases and pests when growing astrantia, you need to properly care for it: water it moderately in hot, dry weather, then be sure to loosen the soil around the bush.
How astrantia is used on the site
Astrantia is a herbaceous plant, which is called ideal for open ground, because it is not only unpretentious, but also looks great throughout the entire flowering period. Its small flowers are perfectly combined with large flowers of roses, unobtrusively complementing and emphasizing their beauty. Zvyozdovka looks great with white, pink and dark crimson roses. Maroon varieties, such as “Moulin Rouge”, you can try to combine with orange roses.
This plant, due to its high decorativeness, is widely used for decorating flower beds, borders, borders, mixborders. It is also planted in the central part of the lawn. They look harmonious both in single and group plantings. Astrantias go well in the garden with geraniums, lungwort, poppies, bluebells, hosts and other colorful bright perennials of the garden. In addition, a variety of cereal plants are suitable neighbors for this crop.
Astrantia is recognized as an excellent honey plant, so it can be used to attract bees to the site. These flowers are good for cutting, as they retain their freshness and decorative effect for a long time. They are also suitable for making dry bouquets. Winter compositions with this perennial look gentle, light and bright.
Below is a selection of photos with an astrantia flower, where you can see how it looks on the site in combination with other ornamental plants, as well as in single plantings:
