Astrantia major Alba
€15.00
Frequently Bought Together
Description
Quick Facts
- Botanical Name: Astrantia major ‘Alba’
- Common Name: Masterwort ‘Alba’
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Mature Size: Approx. 50–70cm H x 40–60cm W
- Flowering: Early summer to early autumn (often repeats if deadheaded)
- Flower Colour: White, pincushion-like flowers with green-tinted bracts
- Foliage: Fresh green, softly lobed leaves
- Position: Part shade to sun (best with some shelter from hot midday sun)
- Soil: Moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil
- Hardiness: Very hardy across Ireland & the UK
- Best Use: Cottage gardens, woodland-style borders, pollinator planting, cut flowers
Description
There’s something quietly magical about Astrantia ‘Alba’. The flowers are delicate and detailed—little white starbursts with a soft green glow—floating above fresh green foliage like lace in the border. It’s elegant without being precious, and it weaves beautifully through other plants, adding lightness and a long season of interest.
It’s also one of the best perennials for that in-between light: bright shade, dappled sun, the edges of a woodland border, or anywhere that stays a little cooler and moister through summer. And pollinators absolutely adore it.
Where to Plant
- Woodland and part-shade borders: A perfect fit with ferns, hostas, and shade-tolerant grasses
- Cottage-style planting: Looks gorgeous among roses, salvias, and nepeta
- Front/middle of borders: Adds airy height without blocking what’s behind
- Cutting garden: Excellent fresh in a vase, and lovely dried too
How to Care
- Watering: Keep consistently moist, especially in its first year and during dry spells
- Feeding: A spring mulch with compost or leaf mould keeps it lush and floriferous
- Deadheading: Remove spent flowers to encourage repeat blooms and keep it tidy
- Dividing: Every few years in spring or autumn to refresh clumps (and make more plants)
- Staking: Usually not needed, but taller growth may appreciate support in very exposed sites
Why We Love It
- Long flowering season with repeat blooms when deadheaded
- Perfect for part shade and moisture-retentive borders
- Pollinator-friendly and great for naturalistic planting
- Beautiful cut flower—subtle, airy, and elegant
Caragh Garden Notebook
‘Alba’ is a brilliant “thread” plant—use it to stitch a border together. It looks especially lovely with soft greens and silvers, and it brings a calm brightness to shadier corners without shouting. If you keep the soil moist and give it a yearly compost mulch, it will reward you for years.
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