Astrantia grows in one place for up to 7 years. You will learn about the simple rules of care and reproduction of this flower from our article. Astrantia is a perennial ornamental plant that blooms profusely for a long time - almost all summer. And some varieties show their blossoming buds already in May. If, after wilting, the inflorescences are removed in time, then the plant can bloom even in September.
Description of astrania
The flower is very beautiful, its inflorescence has an unusually spectacular shape. Such a charm could not leave people indifferent, and several legends were dedicated to this ornamental plant, One of them says: once a bright star fell to the ground, falling in love with a guy. When it hit the ground, it shattered into many shiny pieces. They turned into beautiful small flowers and shine at night, like their progenitor, the heavenly star, which is reflected in the name of the flower. Indeed, in translation "astro" means "space". The Russian name for the flower is also associated with the stars - it is called a star.
The flowers have a very original shape: many small inflorescences are connected into umbrellas 3-5 cm in diameter. They are bordered by colored leaves of the wrapper, which may be of a different or the same color as the umbrellas. In nature, they are green-white or white-silver in color. Ornamental varieties of Astrantia large can have a color with a border or veins.
Varieties and types of astrantia
There are several types of astrantia:
- small;
- large;
- three-cut;
- bavarian;
- greatest;
- Bieberstein;
- hellebore;
- carniola.
And here are some varieties of astration, each of which is extremely decorative. These are star varieties with the following shades of flowers:
- Sunningdale Variegata - greenish pink;
- "Venes" - ruby red;
- Ruby Wedding has red inflorescences and purple-lilac flower wrappers;
- "Roma" - silvery pink flowers with light pink wrappers;
- Rosen Symphony - cherry pink;
- "Buckland" has pale pink flowers and silvery-green inflorescence wrappers;
- "Abbey Road" - flowers are red-purple, inflorescence wrappers are dark purple;
- "Primadonna". This variety has dark red flowers and light red inflorescence wrappers;
- "Moulin Rouge" - wine-red flowers, and burgundy-purple inflorescences.
Astrantia landing
Astrantia's unpretentiousness lies in the fact that it can grow both in the bright sun and in a shady place. But the starlet feels best in open places or in light partial shade. Color saturation directly depends on the amount of light, the more it is, the brighter the color of the flowers.
Planting astrantia in loose nutrient soil will allow it to grow well in one place for up to 6 years. The fertile layer can be small, since the root system of the astrantia is shallow and rather compact. Starfish does not tolerate too hot places and sandy soils. This must be taken into account when choosing a site for it. The addition of loamy soil and fertile black soil will help to change the texture of such soil.
If you planted Astrantia in a sunny place, then you need to water it regularly, as the top layer of the earth dries up, in the evenings. If the starlet does not have enough moisture, it will bloom for a shorter time than it could. But it does not tolerate excessive waterlogging of the soil and stagnant water.
Astrantia looks great on lawns, ridges, flower beds, in mixborders. Planting this plant along the paths will turn them into scenic paths. To keep the starlet blooming for a long time and repeatedly, cut off the wilted inflorescences. It winters well even in cool regions. In late autumn, it is advisable to cover only young plants with sawdust or spruce branches.
Astrantia has few pests - it can be annoyed by slugs that gnaw leaves. To get rid of them will help folk biological or chemical agents.
Astrantia needs to be fed only in the spring, when it starts to grow. Subsequent feeding can contribute to the growth of leaf mass to the detriment of flowering, so it is better not to do them.
Reproduction of Astrantia
It is produced in two main ways - by seed and by dividing the bush. The first method is more laborious and seed germination is low. Usually in one inflorescence up to 30 of them ripen, and only 3-15 emerge.
The seeds must undergo natural stratification. To do this, look at the largest inflorescence you like, let the seeds form. After that, cut off the stem, turn it over and hang it so that the seeds are finally ripe.
They are sown in a flower garden in early November, and purchased seeds in early spring, as soon as the soil thaws. Spring crops usually emerge in 2-3 weeks. If the seedlings are densely planted, they are thinned out to leave a distance of 7-10 cm between the plants. When they grow up, they are planted in a 30 x 30 cm pattern.
Astrantia is propagated by seeds either in early spring or late autumn. For this, the root nest is carefully divided into several parts. Plant them at a distance of 40-50 cm from each other. With spring planting, the sprouts will appear in a month, and the starlet will begin to bloom in 3 years.
If you decide to buy Astrantia and did it in the winter, then plant the roots of the house separately in small plastic cups in the peat soil. Water sparingly, as this plant does not like waterlogging. If it tries to bloom, remove the peduncle so that the starlet grows well before summer, and does not waste energy on blooming.
In early June, transplant Astrantia with a lump of earth to your garden plot and take care of it as described above. Then, by the end of summer, the starlet will increase its green mass, and in subsequent years you will be able to enjoy its extraordinary and very spectacular flowers!
Find out how to plant Astrantia at home from this video:
