Astrantia major ‘Florence’ – the pink masterwort

This is pretty perennial has pincushion flowers that first appeared in late May in my garden. The plants look particularly good in shady borders. They are drought tolerant and are not damaged by slugs.

Butterflies and bees love the flowers. They last for a couple of weeks, with new flower stems appearing up to mid-September. Astrantias make good flowers for cutting and they can be dried for winter use.

A. ‘Florence’ (above) is a favourite of mine. I also have the white ‘Shaggy’, and I found this one below hiding in the middle of the far border last week.