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There are a couple of white astrantias in my own garden which are very pretty and delicate-looking. Lovely as they are, they don’t have the sultry and rather dramatic good looks of this astrantia, photographed in a garden I visited recently.
I don’t know the name of this particular astrantia cultivar. A quick look around with Google has shown me that there are now many cultivars in a range of pink, red and burgundy shades. All are stunningly beautiful, so you can imagine how tempted I am by them…nothing surprising there, hehe!
Fortunately for me, they don’t take up a huge amount of space, so I should be able to fit one or two in here. (But they do prefer a more moisture-retentive soil than we have, so a good addition of compost would be necessary first.)
Dark flowers and foliage have a strong appeal for me. They help to prevent borders from looking a bit too sweet and add a suggestion of mystery and moody allure. My only problem will be deciding which of the dark astrantias to go for!
Ann Mackay: Inspired by Nature 
Happy mystery and moody allure to you. I had to search to find out that “Astrantia is a genus of herbaceous plants in the family Apiaceae, native to Central, Eastern and Southern Europe and the Caucasus. There are several species, which have aromatic roots, palmate leaves, and decorative flowers.”
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Thanks for the wishes, Steve! I have an area that needs clearing out, so may plant some of these dark beauties there. 🙂
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They’re quite interesting, and a beautiful flower once they’ve completely unfurled. I like the star-like shape, and the grape jelly color.
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They’re very different-looking to most flowers and I think they look very effective with something that has much larger flowers. (Giving myself ideas for a bit of re-planting here… 🙂 )
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“mystery and moody allure”… nice! Astrantias are lovely little flowers.
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They certainly are lovely – so delicate and pretty. I think the few paler ones I have may well be joined by some of the darker varieties… 🙂
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We see both kinds at Dunedin Botanic Garden, and both of us like them a lot!
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Yes, we have some of these, and they truly are majestic!
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I think they’re one of my favourites and lovely to photograph too, so it’s a good excuse to grow more of them!
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I will be getting some different colours next year…
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Striking colour…so beautiful!!
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The colour really attracted me to them – there’s something extra-appealing to very dark, rich colours.
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Very dramatic! I have a dark red and a white one, but have yet to find the perfect location for them, each place I have tried they have become swamped by other plants. You would think in my garden they would thrive!
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I hope you find them suitable homes. The white ones that I have are also struggling against the plants around them, but that area is due for some big changes. When I replant I will have to find them some gentler neighbours!
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These are dark and dramatic and would possibly do well here if they fit into a smaller space and like wetter soil. Might try looking for some next time I’m in a garden centre.
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I think they could do very well – hope you find one! 🙂
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😊
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Mystery and moody allure in your garden definitely sounds dark and dramatic, Ann. 😊
I hope you will find some pleasing-to-you cultivars.
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It does, Tanja! I think I’d like a bit of that in the garden, but perhaps nothing too drastic! (Plant-based drama should be OK. 🙂 )
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[…] It’s the last bit of glorious weather here, so I am doing a post-and-run so that I can spend the time outside. Astrantia is still flowering in October. Its pale colours are a contrast with the dark astrantia flowers of this post. […]
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