Astrantia major ‘Star of Beauty’
£5.95
A clump forming perennial with lobed green leaves. Gorgeous long lasting white flowers, with magenta purple tips throughout summer. Height and spread 45cm. Full sun/partial shade. Hardy.
Description
Astrantia major ‘Star of Beauty’ is a stunning perennial known for its long-lasting white flowers with magenta purple tips. This low-maintenance plant thrives in both full sun and partial shade, offering a burst of colour to any garden throughout the summer months. Follow this comprehensive guide to ensure your Astrantia major ‘Star of Beauty’ grows strong, healthy, and produces its breathtaking blooms year after year.
PLANTING and AFTERCARE GUIDE
Best Planting Time
- Spring: The best time to plant Astrantia major ‘Star of Beauty’ is in early spring, once the soil has warmed. Planting in spring allows the roots to establish before the growing season, ensuring a healthy start and abundant flowers.
- Autumn: Alternatively, planting in autumn gives the plant time to settle before dormancy, which can result in stronger growth the following spring.
Site Selection
- Sunlight: Astrantia major ‘Star of Beauty’ thrives in full sun to partial shade. Aim for a location where the plant receives at least 4 to 6 hours of sunlight each day for optimal growth and flowering.
- Soil: This plant prefers well-drained, moist soil. It is essential to avoid waterlogged conditions, so ensure the soil drains well to prevent root rot. Adding organic matter like compost improves the fertility and drainage of the soil, promoting healthy growth for your Astrantia major ‘Star of Beauty’.
Planting Instructions
- Prepare the Hole: Dig a hole that is twice the width and the same depth as the root ball of your Astrantia major ‘Star of Beauty’. This gives the roots plenty of room to spread and establish.
- Soil Preparation: Mix compost or well-rotted manure into the soil to enrich it and enhance drainage. Astrantia major ‘Star of Beauty’ thrives in nutrient-rich soil, which supports its vigorous growth and flower production.
- Planting: Place your Astrantia major ‘Star of Beauty’ into the hole, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil. Gently backfill the hole with soil and firm it down to eliminate air pockets.
- Watering After Planting: Water the plant thoroughly after planting to help settle the soil around the roots and encourage establishment. Ensure good drainage to prevent standing water, which can harm the plant.
Watering Requirements
- Growing Season: Once established, Astrantia major ‘Star of Beauty’ is moderately drought-tolerant. Water during dry periods, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Avoid overwatering, as excessive moisture can cause root rot.
- Dormant Season: Reduce watering significantly during the dormant season. Only water if the soil becomes excessively dry, as the plant requires minimal moisture during this time.
Feeding
- Spring: Apply a balanced fertiliser in early spring to support healthy growth and flower production. This will give your Astrantia major ‘Star of Beauty’ a strong start to the growing season.
- Mid-Summer: A light feeding in mid-summer can help encourage continued flowering and ensure the plant remains vigorous throughout the growing season.
Pruning
- Deadheading: Regularly deadhead spent flowers to prolong the blooming period, keep the plant tidy, and promote fresh growth.
- Autumn Pruning: After the flowers have faded, cut back the plant to ground level in autumn. This encourages healthy growth in the following season and prepares the plant for winter dormancy.
Mulching
- Spring: Apply a layer of mulch around the base of your Astrantia major ‘Star of Beauty’ in spring. Mulch helps retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Organic materials like bark chips or compost work best.
- Winter: In colder months, add a layer of mulch around the base to protect the roots from frost and ensure the plant survives winter.
Supporting the Plant
- Staking: Astrantia major ‘Star of Beauty’ typically has sturdy stems, but in particularly windy areas, staking may be necessary to prevent the plant from being damaged. Use a simple support to keep the stems upright.
Final Tips
Astrantia major ‘Star of Beauty’ is a low-maintenance perennial that provides an elegant touch to any garden with its stunning white flowers and magenta tips. By following these care instructions, your plant will thrive and reward you with continuous blooms from late spring through summer. Ensure the plant is in a location with plenty of sunlight, well-drained soil, and receive regular care, and your Astrantia major ‘Star of Beauty’ will flourish season after season, adding beauty to your outdoor space!
Additional information
Pot Size | |
---|---|
Plant Botanical Type | Perennial (herbaceous) |
Flower Colour | Magenta, Purple |
Leaf Colour | Green |
Varigated Leaf | No |
Scent | No |
Height | 0.45m |
Spread | 0.45m |
Blooms/foliage interest in | Summer, Autumn |
Evergreen | No |
Hardiness | Winter to -10C |
Container | Borders and Containers |
Sun/shade | Full sun, partial shade |
Soil Type | Loam (normal) |
Soil PH | Neutral |
Drainage | Moist Soil |
Hazerdous | No |
Insect Attraction | Bees |
Anonymous (verified owner) –
Very healthy plant and arrived on time.
Ann Robinson (verified owner) –
Andrew (verified owner) –
Iain G. (verified owner) –
Very nice plant
Amanda W. (verified owner) –
Beautiful plants, all packed well and arrived in perfect condition.
Colin Zavala (verified owner) –
Brilliant!!!!!
Heather L. (verified owner) –
John Bryden (verified owner) –
P. DAMICO (verified owner) –
KAREN (verified owner) –
Brilliant
Anonymous (verified owner) –
As before all brilliant, condition
Vivienne (verified owner) –
Healthy plant delivered quickly
J W. (verified owner) –
Mary R. (verified owner) –
Chris S. (verified owner) –
Jane A. (verified owner) –
Lorraine (verified owner) –
Bill Flynn (verified owner) –
as per Roma
Sarah (verified owner) –
Great service, really competitively priced, quick delivery and well packaged on arrival. Will definitely buy from Proctors again.
Daphne Everett (verified owner) –
Anonymous (verified owner) –
Anonymous (verified owner) –
Amanda Rees (verified owner) –
Arrived as healthy plants with beautiful flowers and packaged well.
Graham A. (verified owner) –
All plants received, well packaged , in good condition quality and size
Rebecca (verified owner) –
Survived well in transit
angela g. (verified owner) –
Victoria T. (verified owner) –
Quick dispatch of lovely healthy plants. Thank you
Kim B. (verified owner) –
I normally buy my perennials from proctors much later in the year with much more foliage, one of my astrantias was still under the soil in the pot, there was nothing there so I planted it with the label x am excited about it emerging x
Helen M. (verified owner) –
Dormant plant. Well packed and watered. I expect it to be fine once planted
Amanda H. (verified owner) –
Dee (verified owner) –
Second time that I have bought this, the first edition is growing nicely
Carol W. (verified owner) –
Good size and good quality plant. Excellent service.
JENNY WATSON (verified owner) –
Unfortunately, mine came a completely different colour but such helpful people at Proctors, who sent out a replacement immediately. A lovely Company.
Sam F. (verified owner) –
Great quality plant as expected from Proctor’s. One of the best nurseries I buy from
Andy H. (verified owner) –
Julie Tomlinson (verified owner) –