Masterwort 'Venice'

Astrantia major 'Venice' is one of the darkest and most intense cultivars of Masterwort available, perfect for adding rich color to dappled shade. It produces branched stems topped with pincushion-like flower heads of deep, ruby-red, surrounded by a ruff of papery bracts in a similar saturated hue. These blooms are exceptionally long-lasting and make excellent cut flowers, both fresh and dried. The plant forms a neat mound of deeply lobed, dark green leaves. In the UK, Astrantias are quintessential cottage garden plants but are equally at home in a woodland clearing where the soil remains moist. They are fully hardy (H7) and will often produce a second flush of flowers if the first stems are cut back after fading. They are highly attractive to pollinators, especially bees and hoverflies. 'Venice' is particularly valued for its color retention throughout the blooming season.

Sun: Partial shade.

Soil: Moist, fertile, humus-rich soil.

Hardiness: H7 — below −20°C.

Flowering: Jun, Jul, Aug.