Greater masterwort (Astrantia 'Buckland')
Astrantia 'Buckland' (Greater masterwort) offers showy, dusty pink pincushion blooms from May to July in partial shade.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Astrantia ‘Buckland’, known commonly as Greater masterwort, is celebrated in perennial gardens for its unique, long-lasting blooms and elegant texture. This stoloniferous, clump-forming perennial provides a touch of architectural interest with its pincushion-like flowers subtended by a showy ruff of bracts, making it invaluable for both the border and bouquets. It thrives best when provided with consistently moist, rich soil conditions, favoring cooler summer environments for peak performance.
The dusky pink flower heads of Astrantia ‘Buckland’ appear from late spring well into mid-summer, offering reliable color when many other spring bloomers are fading. Unlike some related species, the cultivar ‘Buckland’ is sterile, meaning you won’t need to manage self-seeding while still enjoying the rich, basal foliage clumps. Its reliable height and structure make the Greater masterwort an excellent mid-border anchor.
Gardeners appreciate the overall resilience and low incidence of pests associated with this plant, though attention to consistent moisture is necessary for optimal flowering. Integrating Astrantia ‘Buckland’ into woodland settings or moist borders ensures that its architectural grace and subtle colors contribute significantly throughout the growing season.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Apiaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-7
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 2-3 ft
- Spread: 1.5-2 ft
- Bloom Time: May to July
- Bloom Description: Dusty pink
- Sun Exposure: Part shade
- Water Needs: Medium to wet
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
Planting Astrantia ‘Buckland’ is best achieved in spring or fall in organically rich, well-drained locations. The critical cultural requirement is consistent moisture; soils must remain medium to wet and should never be allowed to fully dry out, especially during hot spells. Locate Greater masterwort in areas receiving part shade, where dappled light filters through open tree canopies, mimicking its preferred woodland edge environment.
Regarding long-term care, maintain vigilance over watering, particularly in dry climates or during summer heatwaves. While the plant is known for having few serious problems, slugs can occasionally be an issue, requiring routine checks. Fertilization is usually unnecessary if the soil is rich, as excessive nutrients can lead to floppy growth rather than robust flowering structure.
A key consideration for Astrantia ‘Buckland’ is temperature sensitivity; best performance is achieved where summer nights consistently cool below 70°F. Gardeners in warmer regions (‘St. Louis area profile’) must work harder to maintain high moisture levels to compensate for heat stress. Since ‘Buckland’ is sterile and will not self-seed, propagation relies on division if you wish to increase stock, a task best performed in spring.
Landscape Uses
The structural elegance of Astrantia ‘Buckland’ lends itself perfectly to the intermediate layer of perennial borders, providing vertical contrast against lower-growing groundcovers. It excels in open woodlands or along path edges where filtered light meets consistently damp soil, softening transitions between lawn and wooded areas. Its tolerance for moist conditions makes it ideal for stream or pond margins, bringing formal texture to a naturalized setting.
For cottage or wild gardens, Greater masterwort integrates seamlessly, its unique blooms complementing airy grasses or rich-leaved hostas. Its height (2-3 ft) ensures it is visible without overwhelming shorter companions. Furthermore, the long-lasting nature of the bracts means the color persists even after the initial bloom cycle, adding extended visual interest.
Beyond the garden bed, Astrantia ‘Buckland’ is an outstanding choice for floral design. The flowers hold up exceptionally well both fresh and dried, making them excellent additions to dried arrangements, where their papery texture retains shape and color beautifully.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Good Cut
Noteworthy Characteristics
Astrantia, commonly called masterwort or great masterwort, is an umbelliferous, stoloniferous, clump-forming perennial which typically grows 2-3’ tall. Each flower features a pincushion-like umbel of dusty pink florets subtended by a showy ruff of papery, petal-like, silvery-green involucral bracts. The bracts usually remain attractive well after bloom, and flowers appear on stems rising well above the basal clump of foliage.
Tolerances
No specific tolerances were detailed in the source data.
Potential Problems
Astrantia ‘Buckland’ generally enjoys a clean bill of health, suffering from no serious insect or disease problems under ideal cultural conditions. The primary occasional visitor noted are slugs, which thrive in the cool, moist environments that this plant prefers. To manage slug populations, focus on cultural controls such as removing daytime hiding spots, applying physical barriers like copper tape, or using targeted, environment-safe baits around vulnerable new growth.
Maintaining good air circulation, even in partially shaded areas, helps prevent fungal issues common in overly dense plantings. By ensuring the soil is well-drained, despite requiring consistent moisture, you mitigate the risk of root issues that excessive sogginess can cause. Overall, the maintenance level is medium, requiring primarily consistent watering and occasional slug patrol.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Greater masterwort suitable for?
Astrantia ‘Buckland’ is typically hardy and thrives when planted in USDA Zones 4 through 7.
How large does Greater masterwort grow?
This herbaceous perennial generally reaches a mature height between 2 and 3 feet tall, with a spread of 1.5 to 2 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Astrantia ‘Buckland’ need?
For the best display of its dusty pink blooms, Astrantia ‘Buckland’ requires a location with part shade.
When does Greater masterwort bloom?
You can expect the showy flowers of this masterwort cultivar to appear consistently from May through July.
Conclusion
The Astrantia ‘Buckland’ remains a stellar choice for adding sophisticated texture and reliable dusky pink blooms to shaded, moist garden spaces. Its unique flower structure ensures it stands out among traditional perennials, and because it is sterile, cleanup is straightforward. Before planting, confirm your microclimate features cool summers and plan for consistent moisture to best support your new Greater masterwort specimen.
Companion Planting
Since Astrantia ‘Buckland’ demands rich, moist soil and appreciates part shade, selecting companions with similar needs helps maintain a cohesive garden tapestry. Hostas, with their broad leaves, offer excellent contrasting foliage shapes beneath the airy, umbrella-like structure of the masterwort. Ferns, particularly those that tolerate some dryness (like Japanese Painted Ferns if the soil remains adequately moist), pair beautifully, reinforcing the woodland aesthetic.
Consider using plants that bloom slightly earlier or later to extend textural interest, such as spring bulbs like Daffodils (in a cool, moist area) or late-season shade lovers like Astilbe or Ligularia, both of which appreciate the consistent moisture required by Greater masterwort. Avoid dry-loving Mediterranean herbs or sun-worshipping salvias, as their needs directly conflict with the medium to wet requirements of Astrantia.
Design Ideas
The architectural quality of Astrantia ‘Buckland’ lends itself well to modern interpretations of cottage gardens. Use masses of it along the edge of a shaded patio where viewers can appreciate the detail of the flower bracts up close. For a formal application in a wooded area, plant in precise rows flanking a flagstone path, using the reliable 2-3 foot height to create a structured edge that still feels natural.
Incorporate this plant near water features where its moisture needs are naturally met, allowing the silvery-green foliage to float over the water’s edge. Because the bracts remain attractive long after bloom, group Astrantia ‘Buckland’ with plants that offer strong fall or winter interest, such as hellebores or dwarf conifers, ensuring year-round structure in the backdrop.
