Astrantia, Cottage or Contemporary Plant?

I was recently shown an article in Gardens Illustrated by a fellow garden enthusiast that basically detailed that the Astrantia sp. is making somewhat of a contemporary revival. This has further been affirmed by increased use in the show gardens of recent RHS shows for example in Luciano Guibbilei Laurent-Perrier Garden and Cleve West Daily Telegraph Garden in Chelsea this year. 

Here I just wanted to show you a few of these beautiful plants that have been used in the planting schemes at Chelsea.

 Luciano used the Astrantia 'Buckland' and the Astrantia 'Roma' to devastating effect. 

 

Astrantia 'Buckland' - This dainty pale pink pincushion flower detailed with mottled green and a white ruff that appear from June until August sit nicely above the dark green deeply lobed leaves, this particular astrantia has larger flowers than most of its cultivars. In a contemporary border use this in the front of a sunny, moist border. 

Astrantis 'Roma' - This delicate, pastel pink flower that is supported on wiry stems above the deeply lobed mid-green leaves. This particular astrantia has a much longer flowering period than most other of the pink varieties. According to Crocus.co.uk this masterwort is a favorite of Garden designer Piet Oudolf's. 

 

Cleve West used 3 different varieties of Astrantiain his Daily Telegraph garden - 

Astrantia major 'Claret' - One of the darkest astrantias available with a deep ruby red pincushion like flowers, with deeply lobed dark green leaves. Val Bourne describes the plant as being reminiscence of a vintage red wine as seen through a glass decanter.  

 

Astrantia major 'Ruby Star' - This recently introduced cultivar has dark red flowers with black tipped bracts. This particular masterwort will flower right through to late autumn if you deadhead regularly. 

 

Astrantia major 'Ruby Wedding' - This is my personal favourite, i love the ruby red flower with that slight hint of white emanating from base of the petals, this is similar to the 'Ruby Star' but each plant does not its differences as you can see from the images.. 

I think it is great to finally see such a beautiful and delicate plant that was originally cultivated in Britain in the 16th Century and has for so long been associated with old grannies gardens and that typical English country garden get recognition in a modern and contemporary environment as RHS Chelsea.

I am also very pleased to see that such amazing garden designers as Cleve West, Piet Oudolf and Luciano Guibbilei are heralding these plants and are finding places for them in their designs and I would like to think that this might also spur on other to pick up this mantle and run with it too! 

I will certainly being including these marvellous plants in future designs and planting plans over the next 12 months. What next will this masters of our trade pick up and promote that is what i want to know!

WHAT TO DO IN....JULY

Well Folks July is here but the weather isn't really singing out summer to us, but for those of us that are hardcore and don't mind getting a little bit wet in the name of a beautiful garden here are a few things that you can do in order to keep your garden in tip top condition

·         Trim any hedges especially yew and remove any weeds growing beneath.

·         Plant out some autumn flowering plants like the beautiful crocus, hardy cyclamen and chrysanths.

·         Check you borders on a regular basis for weeds and remove – weekly is best but fortnightly is fine.

·         Remove any faded or dead flowers from plants such as rhododendrons.

·         Prune your established wisteria if it is reluctant to flower. 

Remember – a weed is any plant that is growing where it shouldn't be. This is the perfect time of year to take cuttings so ask your neighbour if you can have a snippet of that shrub you’ve admired for years  and pot it up.