Astrantia, or starlet - a perennial plant, reaching a height of more than 70 cm. It is decorative, looks great in bouquets, completely unpretentious.
Astrantia, the landing and care of which does not require any specific conditions, is growing remarkably on any soil. True, he prefers sunny areas or light partial shade. The cricket is quite resistant to the most common garden diseases. It requires additional watering only during periods of drought. He loves top dressing in the form of organic fertilizers. Astrantia is usually fed in the spring or fall, and always during a transplant. In one place, it can grow for about 7 years, without losing decorative qualities.
Astrantia, the landing and care of which is quite simple, needs to be pruned from the very first shoots. This is done to form a lush bush.
Astrantia - landing and care. Growing
The easiest way to propagate the plant is to divide the bush. The cricket is also well propagated by seed or division of the rhizome.
Astrantia. Seed growing
Seeds can be planted both in spring and autumn. When planting seeds in spring, you must first subject them to stratification (exposure to low temperatures). To do this, it is enough that they lay for some time in the refrigerator. Seeds are laid out in small containers with prepared soil. Then they are cleaned in a cool dark place. After the first shoots appear, the containers are transferred to a brighter place. Reinforced seedlings are transplanted into the open ground at the end of May. Astrantia grown from seeds blooms after three years.
By dividing the bush, the plant can be propagated in spring or autumn. To do this, they dig out astrantia, divide it into parts and plant new bushes immediately in a permanent place. Before planting, it is advisable to add a little organic fertilizer to the prepared wells.
By dividing the rhizome, the plant can be propagated only in the spring and until the first leaves begin to grow. This method is rarely used, as a rule, in those cases when it is required to preserve especially rare types of astrantia.
Astrantia, landing and caring for which is not difficult, with its resistance to various diseases can be severely affected by snails.
When buying seedlings, you need to pay special attention to the condition of the leaves. Yellowed foliage and fading leaves indicate the presence of possible diseases, such seedlings are not worth buying.
Young plants should have healthy leaves, it is preferable that the seedlings are planted in separate pots.
To decorate the landscape of your garden, you can plant astrantia on the banks of a small pond. Such a plant will look great next to geraniums or astilbe. White inflorescences of stars will favorably emphasize and shade purple wide bells and other flowers.
Astrantia is also suitable for alpine hills, with it you can beautifully combine a planted fern.
In any case, this unpretentious plant will decorate your garden and bring some zest to the landscape. In combination with other cultures or by itself, it always looks amazing and elegant.