The herbaceous plant Astrantia, which is also called asterisk, is a representative of the umbrella family. Such a plant can be found in Eastern, Southern and Central Europe, as well as in the Caucasus. To date, experts have not established exactly where the name Astrantia came from, but there is an opinion that it consists of two words: "astron", meaning "star" (it is assumed that this is due to the shape of the flower), and "antion" - "opposite ”(Most likely, this refers to the covering leaves of the plant). This genus includes about 10 species. In England and America, such a perennial plant is very popular, and it has been cultivated in these countries since the 16th century. At the moment, thanks to the work of breeders, a huge number of garden forms of Astrantia have appeared.
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Features of astrania
Astrantia herbaceous plant is rhizome. Its shoots are straight, slightly leafy and slightly branched, their height varies from 0.15 to 0.9 meters. Leaf plates, as a rule, are palmate-separate or palmate-lobed, they have from 3 to 7 serrated lobes along the edge of a lanceolate or obovate shape. They are collected in root rosettes. Simple, umbrella-shaped inflorescences that look like stars, consist of a large number of small ruby-pink or white flowers. The rich green leaves of the wrapper give the plant even more showiness. Flowering begins in May and ends in the first autumn days. The fruit is a two-seed.
This plant is a honey plant, so it attracts bees to the garden plot. It is also resistant to cold and drought. Astrantia is grown in rabatkas, mixborders, in flower beds, used to create borders, or planted in groups in the center of the lawn. In the garden, such flowers are recommended to be grown together with lungwort, astilba, hosts, geraniums and variegated heuchera. The inflorescences of this plant are good for cutting because they stay fresh and showy for a long time. Astrantia is also used for drawing up dry bouquets.
This flower is distinguished by its undemanding care and growing conditions.In this regard, it is quite popular among gardeners.
Growing Astrantia from seeds
Sowing
Astrantia is able to reproduce independently by self-seeding. However, it should be taken into account that in such seedlings the varietal characteristics of the parent plants are not completely preserved. In this regard, experienced gardeners recommend choosing other methods for propagating such a flower. Sowing freshly harvested seeds can be done before winter after the shoots appear in spring, they only need to thin out. If desired, Astrantia can be grown through seedlings; for this, the seeds are sown in early spring in boxes. However, in this case, they will need stratification, for this, the seeds of the autumn harvest will need to be placed in the refrigerator in a vegetable drawer for 8-12 weeks. By the way, carefully examine the packaging purchased from the Astranian seed store, if it does not indicate that they were stratified by the manufacturer, then you will have to do it yourself.
For sowing seeds, use nutritious light soil. They are distributed over its surface, and sprinkled on top with a thin layer of substrate. The boxes should be covered with glass or foil and removed to a warm place (from 20 to 23 degrees). When the seedlings appear, the shelter must be removed.
Growing seedlings
After the first shoots appear, the boxes should be rearranged in a well-lit place. When 1-2 weeks pass after the seedlings appear, they will need to be thinned out. The plant must be systematically watered after the topsoil dries, and the substrate must also be carefully loosened. When ventilating the room, make sure that the seedlings are protected from drafts.
Picking
When the plants have the first pair of true leaf plates, they need to be cut into individual pots, using the same soil mixture as for sowing. You need to start hardening the plants 1.5 weeks before planting. To do this, the seedlings are daily transferred to the garden or to the balcony, while the duration of its stay in the fresh air should be increased gradually. Planting seedlings in open soil can only be done after it has fully adapted to new conditions.
Landing Astrantia in open ground
What time to plant
As a rule, planting seedlings of Astrantia in open soil is recommended in the last days of May or the first days of June. For planting, both a well-lit area and one located in a small shade of trees are suitable. The soil must be nutritious and loose, and its composition can be almost any.
How to land correctly
There is absolutely nothing complicated in planting and caring for such flowers. When planting between the bushes, a distance of 0.3 to 0.4 m should be observed.It should be taken into account that after planting the plant should be at the same level as it grew in the pot. Around the planted plants, the soil should be tamped, and then they are watered very well. The flowering of Astrantia grown through seedlings begins after 3 years.
Astrania garden care
Astrantia is one of the most undemanding garden plants to care for. If in summer there is no abnormal heat and prolonged droughts, then such a plant can not be taken care of at all, since it is distinguished by its hardiness and drought resistance. If the summer turned out to be sultry and dry, then in this case, Astrania will not need a lot of watering. In the event that you expect only one flowering from it, then during the most severe drought it will need to be watered only once every 7 days. However, in the event that you want such a plant to bloom again, you will need to choose such a watering regime so that the soil near the bushes is slightly damp all the time throughout the growing season.After the flowers are watered or the rain has passed, do not forget to loosen the surface of the site and at the same time pull out all the weeds. To significantly reduce the number of watering and weeding, it is recommended to cover the surface of the site with a layer of mulch (peat or humus). In order for Astrantia to bloom longer and not reproduce independently, it is necessary to cut off the inflorescences that have begun to fade in time. When the bushes bloom for the first time, it will be necessary to cut off all the inflorescences, this will stimulate the growth of new flower arrows, and the bush will also become more lush and symmetrical.
In the event that Astrantia is grown in nutritious soil, then it will need to be fed only 1 time per season at the beginning of the spring, and complex mineral fertilizer is used for this. If it has been growing on poor soil for more than three years, then it is recommended to feed it 1 more time in the second half of the summer period, and in this case potash-phosphorus fertilizer is used. It is recommended to feed it with liquid fertilizer, but if you apply it to the soil in a dry form, then be sure to water the flowers after that.
Astrantia can be grown in the same place for no longer than 10 years. However, experienced gardeners advise planting bushes every 5-7 years. In some cases, such a plant may need a garter to a support, especially during the rainy season.
Reproduction Astrantia
Astrantia can be propagated in the same way as almost all other perennial herbaceous plants grown in the garden, namely: by dividing the bush and seeds. How to propagate it through seedlings is described in detail above. However, store-bought seeds are stratified by experienced gardeners for 8 weeks and then sown directly into open soil in the spring after the ground has warmed up enough. If the seeds have just been harvested, then they are sown before winter immediately in the open ground.
But when propagating Astrantia by seeds, it should be borne in mind that seedlings may not retain the varietal characteristics of the mother plant. In this regard, it is recommended to propagate this plant by dividing the bush, which is carried out in the spring (before the leaves appear) or in the fall (at the end of the growing season). To do this, divide the root nest into several parts, which must be planted, and do not forget to keep a distance of 0.4 to 0.5 m between the bushes, while humus must be added to each hole. After 4 weeks, the delenki will start to grow and they will have sprouts, and after 12 months they will not differ much from adult plants. Plants propagated by dividing the bush will begin to bloom after 3 years. This method is most often used in order to propagate very valuable or rare varieties.
Diseases and pests
Such a plant has a very high resistance to diseases and pests. But if it is wrong to follow him, then this can significantly weaken his immunity. For example, if Astrantia is constantly watered very abundantly, then this can cause the development of a fungal disease. To cure the affected bushes, they should be treated with fungicides, for example, Quadris, Fitosporin, Fundazol, Bravo or other means of similar action.
Astrantia after flowering
Seed collection
If you are planning to collect seeds from Astrantia, then during flowering, outline the most spectacular and large inflorescences. When they begin to dry out, they should be covered with gauze bags, which will prevent the ripe seeds from spilling out onto the surface of the site. Completely dried seeds must be cut and placed for final drying in a well-ventilated dry room, spreading them out on a newspaper sheet. After they are completely dry, it will be necessary to extract seeds from them, from which dried petals are removed. The seeds are placed in a small cardboard box or in a paper bag, which is removed in a dark and dry place.
How to prepare for wintering
Preparing Astrantia for wintering should be done in the autumn. To do this, you need to cut off its stems almost to the level of the surface of the site. Then the bushes are mulched with peat or humus. It is recommended to use spruce branches to cover young bushes. If Astrantia is already an adult, then it is quite capable of surviving the winter without shelter.
Types and varieties of astrantia with photos and names
In total, there are more than 10 different types of Astrantia, but only 3 of them are cultivated most.
Astrantia major, or large astrantia
In nature, this species can be found in the west of the European part of Russia, in Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, Central Europe and in the Baltic countries. Such a plant prefers to grow on lawns and edges of deciduous and coniferous forests. The height of the spreading bush is about 0.7 m, and its diameter is about 0.4 m. The root rosette consists of three to seven-part long-petiolized leaf plates. Light pink flowers are collected in simple umbrella-shaped inflorescences, the diameter of which is about 50 mm. The color of the leaves of the wrapper is green or light pink. Cultivated since 1597 The most popular varieties:
- Moulin rouge... The inflorescences are colored wine-red, while the leaves of the wrapper are of a darker, almost black shade. The flowers of bushes grown in sunny areas are most effective.
- Ruby Wedding... The bush reaches a height of 0.65 m, the color of the flowers is dark red. It is recommended to grow this variety in a shaded area.
- Claret. The color of the flowers is burgundy, transparent wrappers of the same color. Plant height 0.55 m. Astrantia blooms in the first days of July, and flowering ends in the last days of September. Recommended to grow in partial shade and shade. Can be cultured in a container.
- Diva... The flowers are dark red and the wrappers are colored in a lighter shade. Plant height approximately 0.7 m. The variety can be grown in a sunny or shaded area.
- Venice... The color of the inflorescences is ruby.
- Lars... The height of the bush is about 0.75 m, it is decorated with pink inflorescences, their color is so rich that it seems to glow in the dark.
- Sunningdale Variegata... The color of the inflorescences is pale lavender. On the surface of the green leaf plates there are strokes of cream and yellow-golden color.
- Rosensimphony... The height of the plant is about 0.7 m. The inflorescences are pink and the wrappers are pale pink.
- Rosea... Plant height is about 0.6 m. Inflorescences are bright pink, and leaf plates are spotty.
- Snowstar... The flowers are white, and the wrappers are white with green. The plant reaches a height of 0.55-0.7 m. It is recommended to grow this variety in partial shade and shade.
- Abbey road... Astrantia is red, the color of the inflorescences is purple, and the wrappers are of a darker shade.
Astrantia maxima
The homeland of this kind is the Caucasus. The height of such a compact plant is 0.7 m, it is long-rhizome. The leaf plates are tripartite. The diameter of simple umbellate inflorescences is 45 mm, they consist of small pink flowers. The leaves of the envelope are colored very pale red, they are membranous and reach 10 mm in length. Flowering occurs in August and September.
Astrantia minor
In nature, such a plant is found in the southern part of Western Europe, prefers to grow in the mountains. The height of the bush is almost 1 m. The leaf plates with long petioles are three to seven-part. The diameter of the umbellate inflorescence is 30 mm, it consists of a large number of pink-white flowers. Bloom is observed in July-August. Cultivated since 1868
Astrantia carniolica
It is a herbaceous perennial plant. Opposite leaf plates are palmate-separated. Umbellate inflorescences are composed of white flowers. The most popular variety is Rubra. The color of flowers and wrappers of this variety is bright pink, turning into red. The plant reaches a height of 0.7 m. Flowering begins in the last days of May, and ends in the last days of August.
Also, gardeners sometimes cultivate three-cut Astrantia, Bieberstein, hellebore and Bavarian.
