Masterwort

Astrantia major

• Position: full sun or partial shade
• Soil: fertile, moist, preferably humus-rich soil
• Rate of Growth: average to fast
• Flowering period: June to August
• Flowers: pale pink
• Other features: excellent cut flowers
• Hardiness: fully hardy

  
  Pretty, pale pink or whitish green flowers held on slender, branched stems above deeply lobed, mid-green leaves. This old cottage garden favourite that has been cultivated since the 16th century and works equally well in the dappled shade of a woodland edge or in a sunny, but moist garden border. For an eye catching display, why not combine it with pink turk's cap lilies, escallonia and a climbing rose?
  

• Garden care: Incorporate plenty of organic matter when planting and water well in dry weather especially newly established plants. Lift and divide large clumps in early spring and apply a generous 5-7 cm mulch of well-rotted manure or garden compost around the plant. Divided specimens may take some time to establish since they don't like having their roots disturbed.