Astrantia flower is unusual, therefore, it is often decorated with a design of a garden, park or personal landscape. In Russia, the variegated beauty is called a star, comparing her outward resemblance to a star. This is not accidental - the form of inflorescence is close to the constellation or shape of the bright sun.
Origin
The history of astrantia begins in the 16th century in England. Then she was appreciated for attracting bees. Caring for her was a real pleasure for the hostesses. It was from the UK that the flower came to Russia.
Variety Rubra
A good quality in describing astrantia is that it is unpretentious, does not require much attention. Grows on open plains, in the shade or partial shade.
Additional Information. The editors of the online magazine "All About Garden Design" talks about the legends and traditions of the origin of the herbaceous plant and its name. According to one of them, the young girl went away to look for her beloved, who was sent to the war. He died heroically in battle. So that the inconsolable girl could return home safe and sound and not get lost in the forest, her lover strewn her path with flowers that flickered brightly in the dark.
There is a second legend: once a star fell in love with an earthly guy. To be always with him, she decided to fall to the ground. During the flight, the wind mercilessly chopped the edges of the bright constellation, filling the area with thousands of fragments. They subsequently turned into charming flowers that glow at night.
Description of appearance
Perennial plant belongs to the Umbrella family. It has bright flowers of amazing shape and with bewitching shades: white, red, pink, purple and lilac. Sometimes colors are combined in one bud.
Plant characteristics:
- Straight branching stems 15-90 cm in height.
- A small amount of leaves that collect at a root outlet.
- Spreading bushes (in wild varieties), in diameter reaching 50 cm.
- Easy to grow, tolerates wintering without complications.
- Flowering is 1.5 months, in June - August, sometimes also in September.
- Inflorescences are collected in umbrellas from three to five centimeters.
- Coloring is with a border or veins.
- Fruits are two-seeded.
- Powerful, compact rhizome.
Species and varieties
Breeders count about 10 varieties of culture. Since reproduction occurs only with the help of seeds, in order for young shoots to completely convey all the features of the mother plant, it is necessary to collect the seed before it fully ripens and sheds.
Astrantia varieties and species most popular:
- Big and Big. Subspecies - Primadonna, Shaggy, Venice, Claret.
- The greatest. Subspecies - Maxim, Rosea.
- Small star.
- Pink. Subspecies - Symphony, Rubra, Pink Pride.
- White. Subspecies - Alba and Roma.
- Moulin rouge.
Important! In the Urals, the most common plant species are large astrantia Astrantia major. Since the soil of the Ural region is more severe, only these varieties were able to adapt to it.
Big
Astrantia Bolshaya is distinguished by large leaves, but peduncles small, pale pink.
Great, prima donna
Height - not higher than 80 cm.
White
Astrantia Belaya - a decorative look. This is a best seller among all varieties. It blooms for a very long time, in height - up to 45 cm. Likes partial shade or diffused sunlight. Gives abundant self-seeding, therefore, it is recommended to remove old faded fruits.
White, Alba
It goes well with bells, irises, geraniums.
Moulin rouge
Astrantia Moulin Rouge has raspberry-wine flowers and dark leafy wrappers.
Moulin rouge
Not afraid of frost, the bush reaches a height of 60 cm.
Roma
Astrantia Roma can often be found in the flower beds of the central sites of cities.
Roma
This is no coincidence - delicate lilac flowers on a tall shrub look mesmerizing.
Large Astrantia Major
This species is considered the predecessor of all others. After growing the seeds, the colors of the peduncles change, the flower itself becomes taller.
Astrantia major astrantia major, Sunningdale
Hybrid varieties from this species are not recommended to be grown.
Shaggy
Astrantia Shaggy is classified as large or large. It grows very well on garden soil, does not require frequent transplants. On one soil, it can actively develop over 5-7 years.
White, Shaggy
A feature of reproduction is the ability to divide the bush in the autumn or part of the rhizome in the spring before the start of leaf growth.
Pink
Astrantia Pink has maroon inflorescences, the height of the bush does not exceed 40 cm.
Pink, Pink Pride
The subspecies Symphony and Pink Pride are especially popular.
Rosea
Astrantia Rosea is classified as the highest grade. It reaches 90 cm in height. Rosea has a second flowering, if you cut off the flowering shoots.
Rosea
The flowers are pale pink, with faintly red wrappers.
Venice
Astrantia Venice is classified as a large variety. Flowering takes about 40 days, the flowers are dark purple.
Venice
Shrub height - up to 50 cm.
Claret
Claret is also a large variety with maroon inflorescences on a red peduncle. A very bright color of the flower distinguishes Claret from other astrantia. Therefore, it is often used in bouquets, landscape designs.
Claret
Important! This species is extremely poorly transplanted, so flower growers do not transplant Claret. Shrub can grow in one place up to 10 years. Before planting, it is important to remove dead stems and roots, only after - to plant.
Agricultural technology
Seed cultivation
Growing astrantia from seeds at home requires special attention and control. This culture propagates well by self-seeding, but at the same time does not retain all of its characteristics. The cultivation process is easy, but some recommendations are needed.
Seeds can be sown:
- In autumn, when the flowers are collected, in the spring they sprout themselves. This method can only be applied to seeds harvested by hand.
- Shop seed is sown only in spring.
What do shoots look like?
Recommendations after purchasing seeds in a store:
- Seeds need to be stratified, that is, cooled. It is enough to place them in the refrigerator for several weeks.
- Planting for seedlings is carried out in early spring, in March. Seeds are sown shallowly in loose soil and they are tried to withstand at a temperature of 20-23 degrees. The top is covered with a film, but the moisture is retained when watering. After a few weeks, seedlings appear, so the film can be removed, and the shoots themselves are thinned out.
Additional Information. The aging process at low temperatures naturally takes place during sowing in the fall, but in natural conditions. Sometimes on the packaging of store seeds it may be indicated that the seeds are already stratified.
What you need for landing
When planting and caring for astrantia flower, it is important to adhere to the main rule - light soil, rich in oxygen.
For landing you need:
- Prepared stratified seeds,
- Loose light soil
- The temperature of the room after planting is not lower than 20-23 degrees before the start of seedlings and the appearance of seedlings.
An important factor in the rapid development of shoots is the presence of sunlight.
Growing seedlings
Seedlings begin to grow rapidly, subject to all the rules. After two weeks, the seedlings can already be thinned out. While seedlings are actively growing, it must be constantly watered and the soil loosened. In no case should drafts be allowed.
If small leaves appear on seedlings, you can dive the plant and plant it in small pots with the same soil in which the seed was planted.
Note! Before planting the culture in the garden, it should start to temper. The process is very simple: take the pot out for a few minutes for a “walk”. Gradually lengthen the time spent in the fresh air.
Step-by-step garden planting process
Astrantia plant planting and care in the open field will not cause special problems even for a beginner. The culture is very close to field view.
Planting is carried out in late May or early May, when the seedlings will already be actively developed. By the onset of frost, the rhizome will strengthen in the culture and will be able to tolerate frost. Already formed strong seedlings are planted. They will give the first flowers only after 2-3 years.
Scheme:
- Soil is being prepared. It should be light, loose, without loam and stagnation. Black soil may be added if the soil is acidic or too alkaline.
- Small holes are dug where a drainage layer of sand and organic fertilizers is introduced (for example, household waste, plant tops).
- Wells are abundantly watered and rhizomes are planted.
- The soil is densely compacted and watered again.
- Additionally, the soil can be mulched with hay or straw.
Care
Astrantia requires constant but easy care.
Watering mode
Watering should be regular and of high quality. In summer hot time - once or twice a week, in autumn - once every 10-15 days. Used rain or sediment water. As a supplement, it is allowed to water the plant with decoctions of chamomile, sage, nettle, dandelion or infusion from egg shells. Egg shells also help in the fight against bears.
Top dressing
Feeding is allowed to be made, but you can not overdo it. The culture grows well and without fertilizers.
Phosphorus-potassium dressing
Prior to the onset of bud growth, nitrogen supplements are introduced; after flowering, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are introduced. Strictly follow the instructions.
If astrantia blooms on mineral-poor soil, then it is allowed to introduce additional fertilizing of phosphorus and potassium in the middle of summer. Liquid fertilizers are very good for culture. When applying dry top dressing, it is imperative to make abundant watering after applying it.
Flowering Care
The gardener needs to ensure that astrantia does not dry out the soil. With prolonged drought, the plant will also develop, but flowering will suffer. Most likely, under such conditions, if it blooms, then only once. Therefore, if you want to re-bloom, you should abundantly water the culture.
It is also important to constantly loosen the soil and remove all weeds that interfere with flowering and crop development. To control weeds, mulching with peat or humus helps.
If faded inflorescences occur, they must immediately be removed. After the first flowering, it is better to cut off all the flowers so that the second ones are tied again. This procedure will help the bush look fresh and well-groomed.
Dormant care
When the flowers of astrantia have finished flowering, they should be cut off almost at ground level. So the plant will be easier to survive the winter. You can also make top dressing to fill the culture with the necessary minerals. Watering becomes less frequent - up to once every 10 days.
Additional Information. In the fall, they begin to collect seeds. For this, gauze bags are taken, they cover those flowers where the seed does not spill out onto the ground. After the inflorescences have dried, they are cut and dried in a dry, well-ventilated room. Then the seeds are shaken and put into paper bags for further storage.
Winter preparations
In general, astrantia easily tolerates frosts. But, if these are young shoots, it is better to further protect them by mulching with sawdust or dry foliage.
Varieties of incredible beauty of the plant are many. At the same time, choosing your pet will not be difficult. The star flower will subsequently delight everyone with its flowering and will become the highlight of any flowerbed.
