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Interesting, complex,
long-lasting flowers, prized by flower arrangers but also
perfectly at home in the cottage garden. The dark green,
lobed leaves form an attractive mound. The flowers are
dense 2-3” diameter domes of tiny florets, backed by
stiff, petal-like bracts, usually referred to as a
“collar”, all held above the foliage on wiry stems. Well
drained but not dry soils. These will generally do well in
full sun in the north, but do not like the heat & humidity
of the deep south, even in part shade.
Astrantia major is the most popular species and has
many common names, among them Great Masterwort and
Gentleman's Melancholy, but also Hattie’s Pincushion
Flower, which I find more descriptive and interesting. The
blooms are green-white with greenish collars, sometimes
tinged pink to purple. |