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Astrantia large belongs to the genus Astrantia, the Umbrella family. This perennial herbaceous plant is found in Europe and the Caucasus. Other names: large astrantia, large star. Planting and caring for large astrantia will not cause any particular difficulties.
The large starfish is unpretentious, rarely gets sick, and is not afraid of drought.
Description of Astrantia major
Large star is a rhizomatous plant with spreading bushes about 70 cm high, 40 cm in diameter. It has low-branched stems with a small number of leaves, palmately divided or palmately lobed in shape. They form basal rosettes.
Large Astrantia flowers are pale pink, umbrella-shaped, star-shaped inflorescences consist of a large number of small buds. The wrapper leaves are rich green and large.Blooming inflorescences are about 5 cm in size.
The flowering period of large astrantia depends on the variety and lasts from May to September. The fruit of the plant is a two-seed. Zvezdovka is a honey plant.
Types and varieties
Large Astrantia is most often used in the design of gardens and parks. Many decorative varieties have been developed that can be seen in flower beds and summer cottages.
Moulin rouge
This is a plant with ruby constellations and very dark gradient involucre leaves - going from wine red to black. Moulin Rouge grows up to 55-60 cm. Astrantia prefers sunlit areas.
Astrantia Moulin Rouge blooms from June to August
Diva
This astrantia is quite compact, the bush grows up to 60-70 cm. It is distinguished by burgundy inflorescences. Leaves with long petioles, shiny, bright green, deeply palmately lobed, retain their decorative effect until the end of autumn. It will grow in both shaded and sunny areas, but feels better in partial shade. Blooms from June until the onset of frost.
Astrantia Primadonna is good for cutting
Shaggy
Astrantia large Shaggy is a new variety. Height - up to 75 cm, diameter - up to 40 cm. Shaggy inflorescences are 4.5-5 cm in size. Grows in partial shade and in direct sunlight. Astrantia is used for cutting.
The inflorescences are large, white with a greenish tint
Claret
Astrantia large Claret prefers shaded areas. The bush is about 55 cm in height.
The inflorescences of Astrantia Claret are dark red, the wrappers are translucent
Snowstar
The bush is about 70 cm in height. The Snow Star variety of astrantia can be planted in the sun and in partial shade.
The inflorescences are white with a greenish tint on the reverse side
Alba
The height of the bushes is from 30 to 60 cm. The Latin name of astrantia is Alba.
Alba is a spreading plant with white flowers with a greenish tint.
Buckland
The height of large Buckland astrantia reaches 60 cm. The Buckland variety can be grown in any area.
The inflorescences are pale pink, the wrappers are lighter
Ruby Wedding
The Ruby Wedding variety features ruby-purple inflorescences and burgundy stems, beautifully combined with dark green leaves. Adult specimens of astrantia reach 65 cm in height.
Ruby Wedding likes partial shade and grows well near tall trees
Abbey Road
A plant with pink-lilac flowers, pink-purple bracts and dark green palmate-lobed leaves. The height of Abbey Road astrantia reaches 60-70 cm. It loves partial shade and illuminated areas. Used for cutting and growing in pots.
Abbey Road - a flower with a lilac tint
Red Joyce
The flowers and bracts are dark red and shiny. The leaves of Red Joyce are rich green and have reddish highlights in the spring. It stretches up to 55 cm. It grows both in the sun and in the partial shade of trees. Astrantia large Red Joyce is suitable for growing in containers, and is also used for cutting and arranging bouquets.
Red Joyce features decorative flowers
Rosensymphony
Rosen Symfony height is 70 cm. The variety has dense bright pink flowers and pale pink wrappers.
Rosensymphony grows best in shaded areas
Venice
The height of the Venice flower is 50-60 cm. The peculiarity of the variety is the inflorescences of a rich wine color with dense perianths, as if cut out of corrugated paper. Flowers do not fade and retain their shape well
Venice is ideal for cut flowers and winter bouquets
Roma
Astrantia grandiflora Roma is distinguished by large inflorescences of a delicate smoky pink color.The bush grows up to 90 cm. Flowering continues from the beginning of June until the end of September. Astrantia Roma is used for cutting.
Roma grows well in both sun and shaded areas
Rosea
Astrantia large Rosea reaches a height of 40-60 cm. The bush is compact, the inflorescences are pastel pink, the wrapper is slightly red, filmy. The peculiarity of the Rosea flower is the stripes on the dark green leaves.
Rosea blooms profusely from July to September
Sunningdale Variegata
The peculiarity of the Sunningdale Variegated plant is its decorative green leaves with golden and cream stripes.
The inflorescences of Sunningdale Variegata are pale lavender
Lars
The height of the plant is about 70 cm. The inflorescences of Lars are pink. It blooms for a month starting at the end of June.
Lars is a new variety of large astrantia that does not self-sow
Reproduction methods
Large astrantia is propagated in two ways:
- seeds;
- dividing a bush or rhizome.
With the seed method, varietal characteristics may not be preserved. There is a high probability of mutations and changes in the size and shades of inflorescences, as well as the shape of leaves. Seeds are planted immediately in open ground or seedlings are grown first.
With the vegetative method, the varietal qualities of astrantia are preserved. The method consists of dividing the bush into parts - divisions. It is believed that after division the mother plant blooms more luxuriantly. The advantage of the method is that the cuttings take root well, flowering will begin in 2 years. You can also propagate astrantia by dividing the rhizome - you need to cut off small fragments from it and plant it in a nutritious soil mixture. This procedure is carried out in early spring.
Astrantia is rarely propagated by seeds
Planting and care
Large Astrantia (Astrantia Major) is an undemanding plant, so it is ideal for beginner gardeners.
First, you need to read the description and photo of large astrantia, choose the variety you like and buy seed.
When to sow seeds
Astrantia can reproduce by self-sowing, but gardeners usually control this process:
- In the fall, the seeds are collected and immediately sown in the soil in a prepared area before winter. They can be stratified for 2 months and sown in the spring when the soil warms up.
- In early spring, large astrantia is sown in containers for seedlings, then planted in the ground.
Seeds can be purchased at the store. It is recommended to sow the finished material into the ground in March. The germination rate of purchased seeds is higher than that of home-grown seeds. After 3 weeks they sprout.
Soil and seed preparation
Seeds collected in the fall are placed in the refrigerator for stratification in a vegetable container for 3 months. In early spring, you need to prepare light, nutritious soil for sowing.
Sowing seeds and caring for seedlings
The soil is placed in a container, the seeds are distributed over its surface, and sprinkled with a layer of soil mixture. The containers are covered with film or glass and placed in a warm place with an air temperature of 20-23 degrees.
When the seeds germinate, the film or glass is removed
When seedlings appear, the containers are moved to a place with good lighting. After about 10 days they are thinned out. The sprouts need to be watered as soon as the top layer of soil dries. In addition, careful loosening of the substrate will be required.
When the sprouts have two true leaves, they need to be planted in individual pots.When diving, use the same soil as when sowing.
10 days before transplanting astrantia, the seedlings are gradually hardened. To do this, she is placed on the balcony or outside every day, gradually increasing the time she spends in the open air. When it is fully adapted to the conditions, it is planted in the ground.
Planting in open ground and subsequent care
Large astrantia is planted in the ground at the end of May-beginning of June. You can choose a place well lit by the sun or light partial shade. The soil needs to be loose and quite nutritious. The composition does not matter and can be anything. The rhizome of the flower is compact and located close to the surface, so the plant does not need a thick fertile layer.
Loams and sandy loams are best suited for starwort; do not plant the flower on sandy soils
Astrantia bushes are planted in a flower garden at a distance of 30-40 cm. The seedling is placed in a hole, sprinkled with earth up to the root rosette, compacted and watered abundantly.
The plant does not require special care. It can easily do without moisture - it has enough rainfall. Even in drought and heat, frequent watering is not needed - it is enough to do it once a week. In such conditions, one flowering will be ensured. If repeated application is required, it is necessary to keep the soil moist throughout the entire period of growth and development of astrantia.
After watering, the soil is loosened and the emerging weeds are removed. The same should be done after rain. To keep moisture in the soil longer, the area around the root must be mulched with peat or humus.
In order for the large astrantia bush to be symmetrical and lush, and to flower for a long time, you need to cut off the faded inflorescences in time, which stimulates the growth of new shoots.
If a flower is planted in a nutritious soil mixture, then fertilizing will only be needed once: in early spring it needs to be fertilized with mineral complexes. If it grows on poor soil, a second feeding with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers in the second half of summer is recommended. The recharge must be liquid. When adding dry fertilizer to the soil, watering is necessary.
Zvezdovka can do without transplantation for up to 10 years. But it is recommended to plant it more often - approximately every 6 years.
Astrantia grows very quickly after planting, forming dense thickets after one year
Starweed gives abundant self-seeding and, under favorable conditions, can spread throughout the site. To prevent this from happening, you need to cut off the inflorescences before the seeds set. This will not only prevent uncontrolled self-seeding, but will also promote re-blooming.
Diseases and pests
Large Astrantia is little susceptible to diseases and pest attacks. If you water too much, fungal diseases can develop. For treatment, fungicides such as phytosporin and foundationazole are used.
Sometimes the plant is affected by powdery mildew, which is manifested by the appearance of a white coating on the leaves, which subsequently darkens. They fight it with fungicides, for example, Topaz.
One of the pests is the slug, which causes considerable harm to the plant - the leaves are especially affected, and astrantia loses its decorative properties. The slug loves a moist environment, so for prevention it is recommended to add dry soil to the flowerbed after watering. Also, to prevent its occurrence, the starfish is treated with insecticides.These pests are collected manually from the surface of plants and destroyed.
Sometimes astrantia is attacked by the phytomysis fly, which eats away the leaves, and by aphids.
If not properly cared for, astrantia can be affected by a fungus.
When and how to collect seeds
To obtain large Astrantia seeds, even during flowering, you need to look for the largest and most beautiful inflorescences. When they fade and begin to dry out, you need to put gauze bags on them so that the seeds do not spill out.
When the inflorescences are completely dry, they need to be cut off and sent to dry in a ventilated room. They should be laid out on a horizontal surface. Then remove the seeds and put them in a paper bag or cardboard box. Store in a dry place away from sunlight.
Preparing for winter
In autumn, astrantia is prepared for wintering. It is completely cut off, almost to the ground, and sprinkled with a layer of mulch - humus or peat. Adult plants are not afraid of cold weather, so there is no need to cover them. It is recommended to cover the young ones with coniferous branches or special material.
What colors does it go with?
Astrantia is large, like its other species, and looks good in group plantings. It is modest and natural, thanks to the shape and size of the inflorescences it makes any composition light and airy and significantly enlivens the picture on the lawn. It goes with many colors. It is planted next to lungwort, bluebells, hosts, sage, Patagonian verbena, pinnately bristle, and monarda.
Astrantia looks impressive with large roses and lilies. In a shady flower garden, it gets along well with buzulnik, Rogersia, and Brunnera. In the open sun - with peonies, geraniums, sedge, small-flowered roses. On the shore of a reservoir - with Siberian irises, gravilate, bergenia.On an alpine hill, low-growing varieties will keep company with sedums and juveniles. Astrantias of different varieties look great on the same lawn. It is especially often used in naturalistic compositions and in English-style gardens.
You can see what large Astrantia flowers look like in a flower bed in the photo below.
Starfish fits perfectly with roses
Conclusion
Planting and caring for large astrantia will be within the power of any summer resident. When designing a garden plot, you should take a closer look at such a perennial as Zvezdovka large. The variety of varieties will allow you to create unique compositions on the site. The flowers are well suited for cutting and decorating dry winter bouquets.
