Masterwort Claret Perhaps the darkest of the wine-red masterworts, Astrantia major Claret is a small, rather slow-growing, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial for the front of a partially shaded border. The pretty, mid-green leaves are much divided, edged with red when young, and set off the flowers well. From June to August, the charming, pincushion-like flowers with pretty bracts, rather longer than those of most masterworts, rise on slender, almost black stems above the leaves, showing like dots of wine-red in the border. An old cottage garden plant, masterwort Claret also works well in contemporary plantings. Mulch well, as astrantias don’t like to dry out, and cut back hard after flowering to give a second flush of fresh leaves and flowers. Site: ShelteredSoil: Any well-drained, fertile soil, preferably moistPosition: Partial shade, full sun where the soil is moistFlowering period: SummerHardiness: Fully hardyHeight: 2’ (60cm) Spread: 18” (45cm)