Astrantia ‘Purple Happiness’

Description

Astrantia ‘Purple Happiness’ is a beautiful, compact perennial known for its dark purple pincushion flowers and deeply lobed, dark green leaves. This hardy plant blooms through the summer, adding vibrant colour to your garden. Follow this guide to ensure your Astrantia ‘Purple Happiness’ thrives in your garden.

PLANTING and AFTERCARE GUIDE

Best Time to Plant

• Spring: The optimal time to plant Astrantia ‘Purple Happiness’ is during early spring, when the soil begins to warm up. This allows the plant to establish its roots before the summer growing season, ensuring healthy growth and abundant flowers.
• Autumn: Alternatively, you can plant in early autumn. This gives the plant time to settle in and establish a strong root system before the colder months, encouraging healthy growth the following spring.

Site Selection

• Sunlight: Astrantia ‘Purple Happiness’ prefers a location that receives either full sun or partial shade. It thrives best in a spot that receives at least 4-6 hours of indirect sunlight per day, which helps produce its vibrant, long-lasting flowers.
• Soil: Ensure the soil is well-drained and consistently moist. Astrantia prefers slightly moist soil, but it does not tolerate waterlogged conditions. Incorporating organic matter such as compost will help improve drainage and soil fertility, promoting strong growth and beautiful blooms.

Planting Instructions

1. Prepare the Hole: When planting Astrantia ‘Purple Happiness’, dig a hole that is twice the width and the same depth as the root ball. This allows ample space for the roots to spread and establish comfortably.
2. Soil Preparation: Mix in some compost or organic matter with the soil to improve fertility and drainage. Astrantia benefits from rich, well-drained soil for healthy growth.
3. Planting: Place the plant in the hole, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil surface. Gently backfill the hole with soil, firming it down to remove any air pockets.
4. Watering After Planting: Water your Astrantia thoroughly after planting. This helps to settle the soil around the roots and encourages root establishment. Be sure to check that the area drains well to avoid waterlogging.

Watering Requirements

• Growing Season: Once established, Astrantia ‘Purple Happiness’ is relatively drought-tolerant but prefers consistently moist soil. Water during dry spells, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between watering sessions. Avoid overwatering, as soggy soil can lead to root rot.
• Dormant Season: During the dormant season, reduce watering. Only water if the soil becomes extremely dry, as Astrantia requires minimal moisture in the winter months.

Feeding

• Spring: Apply a balanced fertiliser in early spring to support new growth and ensure a strong start to the growing season. This will help your Astrantia produce abundant flowers throughout the summer.
• Mid-Summer: A light feed in mid-summer can help maintain healthy foliage and encourage continued blooming. Ensure that the plant has sufficient nutrients to support its flowering period.

Pruning

• Deadheading: Regularly remove spent flowers from your Astrantia to encourage more blooms. Deadheading helps maintain a neat appearance and can extend the flowering period by encouraging fresh flower production.
• Autumn Pruning: After the last flowers have faded in autumn, cut the plant back to ground level. This prepares the plant for winter dormancy and helps ensure strong growth in the next season.

Mulching

• Spring: Apply a layer of mulch around the base of  your Astrantia in spring to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Organic materials such as bark or compost are ideal for this purpose.
• Winter: In winter, add an extra layer of mulch to protect the roots from freezing temperatures and prevent frost heaving, which can damage the plant.

Supporting the Plant

• Staking: Astrantia ‘Purple Happiness’ has a compact and sturdy growth habit, so staking is usually unnecessary. However, if planted in a windy area or in particularly exposed locations, consider staking to provide additional support and protect the plant.

Final Tips

Astrantia ‘Purple Happiness’ is a low-maintenance perennial that provides long-lasting colour and beauty to your garden. By planting in well-drained, moist soil and following the care guidelines for watering, feeding, and pruning, your Astrantia will thrive and bloom vibrantly throughout the summer. Whether planted in beds or containers, this stunning plant is sure to be a standout feature in any garden. Enjoy the beauty and elegance of Astrantia ‘Purple Happiness’ all season long!