Astrantia is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Apiaceae (the carrot family), order Apiales. The genus comprises around ten species native to Central, Eastern and Southern Europe and the Caucasus region, where they grow in woodland margins, mountain meadows, and other moist, partially shaded habitats.
Plants in the genus are characterised by aromatic roots, palmate leaves, and their distinctive, decorative flowerheads. Each flowerhead consists of a central dome of small flowers surrounded by a collar of papery bracts that form an open, star-shaped ruff — an unusual structure within the carrot family that gives the genus both its common name, masterwort, and its scientific one, derived from the Latin aster (star).
Astrantia species are commonly called masterwort, though this name may also refer to the unrelated Peucedanum ostruthium. The genus is well regarded as a garden plant, with many cultivated strains selected for their summer-long colour in shades of red, pink, and white. Astrantia maxima has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Etymology
The genus name Astrantia derives from the Latin aster, meaning star, a reference to the plant's distinctive open, star-shaped collar of floral bracts surrounding each flowerhead.
Distribution
Astrantia species are native to Central, Eastern and Southern Europe and the Caucasus. They typically occur in moist, semi-shaded habitats such as woodland margins and mountain meadows across this range.
Cultivation
Many strains of Astrantia have been selected for their ornamental garden value. They grow well in reasonably fertile, moist soil with partial shade and produce their characteristic pincushion flowerheads in summer in shades of red, pink, and white. Astrantia maxima ('Largest masterwort') has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Several garden varieties offer deep red flowers, including A. carniolica 'Rubra'.
