About this cultivar:
Astrantia major subsp. involucrata 'Shaggy' (synonymous with A. major subsp. involucrata 'Margery Fish') is a cultivar that features white (sometimes flushed with pale pink), elongated and pointed involucral (curvy hence shaggy) bracts with green tips which surround umbels of green-white flowers. Flowers bloom from late spring into early summer. Rumour has it Margery Fish found it in her garden at East Lambrook in Somerset and cgave the plant its name because of the shaggy look caused by the involucral bracts. I also think it looks shaggy because the flowers seem to be at different heights. It has been awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Trivia: Astrantia major subsp. involucrata is distinguished from the species by having larger flowers and fringed involucral bracts.
- Position: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil: Almost any soil - grows well in Ballyrobert!
- Flowers: June, July, August, September
- Other features: Bees and Butterflies, Cut Flowers or Dried Flowers
- Hardiness: Fully hardy - grows well in Ballyrobert!
- Habit: Clump forming, Bushy
- Foliage: Deciduous
- Height: 45 - 75 cm (1.5 - 2.5 ft)
- Spread: 45 - 75 cm (1.5 - 2.5 ft)
- Time to full growth: 2 to 5 years
- Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial
- Colour: White, green
- Goes well with: Campanula lactiflora 'Pritchard's Variety', Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna', Rosa, Geranium 'Sirak' (see photo)
About this genus:
Astrantia is an upright herbaceous perennial that is probably our favorite plant in the garden at Ballyrobert. We find that nearly every Astrantia cultivar grows well in nearly every soil and situation; from shade to sun, from dry to wet, from clay to sand! They look great in sun when buzzing with insects but they can also be used in some troublesome part-shade areas. When the flowers die back they dry out very quickly, go light brown, and stay upright - this gives wonderful structure if you decide not to cut them back. This makes a wonderful cut or dried flower, hence the prevalence in the industry.
Sometimes this Genus is known as Masterwort or Hatties pincushion. The Genus name comes from a Greek word 'astron' meaning star in reference to the flower head shape or from magistrantia (derived from the Latin word 'magister' meaning master or teacher).