Astrantia major 'Ruby Wedding' (Masterwort)

Ruby Wedding Masterwort is an open herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter.

Ruby Wedding Masterwort features airy cymes of ruby-red pincushion flowers with white overtones and ruby-red bracts at the ends of the stems from early to late summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its deeply cut ferny palmate leaves remain dark green in colour throughout the season. The black stems are very colorful and add to the overall interest of the plant.

Ruby Wedding Masterwort will grow to be about 20 inches tall at maturity extending to 28 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 24 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 18 inches apart. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 15 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is quite adaptable, preferring to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.