Astrantia: planting and care in the open field, description of 20 varieties and species with photos

Currently, a huge number of flower crops have been bred, so it can be very difficult to choose just one when choosing. For example, you can stop your attention on astrantia. Planting and caring for astrantia is quite simple, the culture is unpretentious.

Description and features

Astrantia, or as this culture is also called - asterisk, is a rhizomatous plant. The height of the bushes is from 15 cm to 1 m. The inflorescences come in various shades: from white to rich burgundy and wine, pink. The inflorescences are simple, umbellate in shape. Collected from a large number of small flowers.

The peculiarity of the star is the presence of a wrapper on the flowers of a more saturated color. The tips of the wrapper are usually green in color. The flowering period is long. Bushes begin to bloom in early summer. Flowering continues until autumn. Easily endures even harsh winters.

Growing methods

There are two ways to reproduce astrantia. Seeds before winter and seedling method. Both methods are quite effective.

Planting freshly harvested seeds before winter

The soil is dug up and grooves are made in an arbitrary location. Then the seeds are sown. Cover lightly with soil and water thoroughly. For the winter, the seeds can be covered with spruce branches. In the spring, after the snow melts, the shelter is removed. Seedlings should appear in a few weeks. After the bushes grow up, they can be seated or left to grow in one place.

Through seedlings

The second method of reproduction is seedlings. Seeds are planted first at home in boxes, and then transplanted into the open ground when they grow up.

Timing

Planting material is planted in late February - early March. Planting dates largely depend on the region of residence and climatic conditions.

Preparation of planting material

Before planting, planting material is prepared so that it germinates faster. To do this, the seeds are germinated. Planting material is placed in wet gauze and covered from above. Gauze is cleaned in a warm and dark place. Before the appearance of sprouts, the gauze must be constantly moistened. After 2-3 days, sprouts should appear. After that, the seeds are planted in the ground.

How to plant

The seeds are planted in a loose fertile substrate.

Seed planting process:

• Small drainage is poured into the bottom of the container, then soil-seven.
• Make shallow grooves in the soil and plant the seeds.
• Dig in lightly with soil.

At the end of planting, pour warm water over and close the boxes with a plastic bag. Thanks to this measure, seedlings will begin to appear faster.

Temperature and light conditions

Boxes with seedlings are placed on sunny windows. Shoots grow better if they are in the sun all day. The temperature in the room should be at least +18 degrees. Seedlings do not tolerate sudden changes in temperature.

Picking

Picking is carried out after the seedlings grow up and a pair of full-fledged leaves appear on each seedling. The bushes are transplanted into peat pots. Then, together with them, they are planted in open ground.

Picking can be omitted if the seedlings do not grow close to each other, and astrantia has enough space in one container.

Hardening

A few weeks before transplanting into open ground, seedlings begin to harden off. Boxes with seedlings are taken out into the street at first for 15 minutes. Each time, the residence time should increase until it reaches an hour. Do not take seedlings outside if the weather is very cold.

Open field landing

Outdoor planting is the second stage of growing a crop. Before this, you should definitely select a bed for seedlings and prepare it in advance.

Timing

Seedlings are planted outdoors after warm weather sets in. Planting seedlings in cold soil leads to the development of diseases. Astrantia is usually transplanted in late May - early June.

Choosing a seat

Astrantia prefers to grow in open sunny areas. You can also plant seedlings in partial shade or under the crown of trees and shrubs. When choosing a place, you need to focus on the fact that part of the day sunlight falls on the bushes.

Soil Requirements

For planting, light loose soil rich in nutrients is best suited. The composition can be any, the plant is undemanding to this point.

Plant pattern

Plant seedlings at a distance of 8-12 cm from each other. Bushes need a place to grow normally. If it is a low-growing variety, the distance can be reduced. The higher the bush, the greater the distance should be.

Care

Crop care is minimal. Astrantia refers to unpretentious plants. You can hardly care for the bushes, just regularly water and weed.

Irrigation

Water the bushes with heated water after sunset. You can water early in the morning when the sun's rays are not yet so aggressive. In the spring after planting, water 3-4 times a week. In the summer every day, especially if the heat lasts a long time. If it often rains, then you need to navigate by the conditions of the plants. If they are green and blooming profusely, you can not water additionally.

To reduce the amount of irrigation, you can mulch the soil in the flower bed. The layer of mulch should not be less than 15 cm. In addition to retaining moisture in the soil, this layer prevents weeds and protects the root system from frost in winter.

Loosening and weeding

Once a week, before watering, the soil is loosened and weeds are removed. It is better not to allow the appearance of weeds at all, to pull them out immediately. The soil is weeded to a depth of 5-7 cm.

Cutting

Cutting is necessary for faded inflorescences. You need to cut them right away so that the bush does not seem “naked”. Dry leaves and stems are also regularly removed. Closer to autumn, when the flowering period ends, the stems are cut so that at least 15 cm remain from the ground.

Feeding

Astrantia is one of those few plants that can be left unfertilized. Without fertilizing, the bush can quite successfully grow and bloom. As a preventive measure, several times a month, the flower bed can be watered with complex mineral fertilizers or manure diluted in water.

Transfer

Repotting is often optional. Transplantation can be done every 3-4 years.

Diseases and pests

Astrantia rarely gets sick and is practically not attacked by insects. For prevention, you need to regularly destroy weeds from the flower bed. In principle, this measure will be enough for the bush to be he althy and bloom profusely all the time.

Reproduction

Astrantia reproduces in two ways - by seed and by division of the rhizome.

Seeds

Reproduction by seeds is carried out in spring or autumn. In the first case, planting material is planted on seedlings in the spring at home. When the seedlings grow up and it becomes warm outside, they are planted in open ground.

Dividing the bush

The second way is by dividing the bush. This method is suitable if the bush has already grown strongly and needs to be replanted. Instead of transplanting, you can cut the plant into several parts and plant. Reproduction is carried out in this way in the fall. In the spring, new bushes will begin to grow actively.

The advantage of this propagation method is that you do not have to grow seedlings, and the bushes will begin to bloom faster after transplanting to a new place.

After flowering

After the inflorescences have faded, you need to start preparing the plants for winter. Unlike many flower crops, astrantia is even unpretentious in this.

Collection and storage of seeds

Seeds can be collected throughout the summer, as soon as the inflorescences fade. Faded flowers are cut and laid out in a dark room so that they dry completely. After that, it is easy to collect the seeds. Store the collected planting material in the refrigerator for no more than two years.

Preparing for winter

Astrantia is a frost-resistant plant, so it is not necessary to cover the bushes for the winter.

Views

Astrantia varieties are divided into several types depending on the height of the bush.

Large

In these varieties, the main stem can grow up to 1 m. The bushes are large and sprawling.

Biggest

The bushes are large, grow up to 70-85 cm in height. This species grows in the Caucasus. The inflorescence is large, about 7 cm in diameter. The flowers are pink.

Small

Plants are small in size, up to 60 cm high. Medium branching. Blooms later than all, in August-September. Dusty pink blooms.

Carniole

The height of this variety of bushes is 40-55 cm. The plant is not branchy, slightly leafy. Fuchsia inflorescences.

Popular varieties

Breeders have bred a large number of varieties of astrantia, different in color of inflorescences and a number of other characteristics.

Moulin Rouge

The height of the Moulin Rouge variety reaches 50 cm. The shade of the inflorescences is rich burgundy.

Ruby Wedding

Tall variety, 70 cm high. Pale pink inflorescences. Bloom begins in June and ends in August.

Claret

The approximate height of the variety is 50-56 cm. The flowers are large, rich wine color. Foliage is bright green.

Diva

Plants up to 55 cm high. Bushes 30-40 cm in diameter. Lavender shade of flowers with white tints.

Venice

Mature plants reach a height of 50 cm. Purple flowers. Grows well in both sun and shade.

Lars

Tall variety, stems about 70 cm long. Pale pink flowers. Differs in long flowering, lasting all summer.

Sunningdale

The variety is tall, grows up to 70 cm. The inflorescences are light pink, the bract is large.

Rosen Symphony

The variety is distinguished by a rich wine color with flower petals. An adult plant grows about 75 cm.

Rosea

Inflorescences of a pink shade. The height of the bushes is up to 80 cm. The flowering period falls on June-September. It prefers to grow in sunny areas and in partial shade.

Snowstar

The flowers are white, the inflorescences are large, 5-6 cm in diameter. The bushes are tall, grow up to 1 m.

Abby Road

Purple hue flowers, rich burgundy wrapper. The bush is medium tall, up to 60 cm high.

Venice

Intense purple flowers. Plant height reaches 50 cm. Spreading bushes.

Major

Inflorescences of ruby color, tall plants, about 70 cm. Unpretentious in cultivation.

Roma

Roma variety is characterized by white-pink inflorescences and tall bushes. Duration of flowering from June to the end of September.

Symphony

The height of an adult plant is up to 75 cm. Flowers are pink in color. Variety suitable for cutting.

Moulin Rouge

Intense wine color inflorescences. A characteristic feature of the variety is a black wrapper. Differs in long flowering, lasting all summer.

Landscape use

Astrantia is universal in landscape design. The plant is combined with most flower crops. Looks great both in group plantings and in singles. Best planted with perennials.

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