Astrantia 'Abbey Road'

Astrantia 'Abbey Road' makes an outstanding addition to any flower border. Forming a neat clump, it grows to around 50-80cm in height, and has attractive, deeply divided dark green leaves. But it's when the flowers come out—starting in early summer and continuing until the end of autumn—that it looks its best. Upright, blackish stems carry heads of deep rich ruby flowers with white bases, and these are surrounded by prominent bracts. A traditional plant of the cottage garden, Astrantia major 'Abbey Road' will also cut and dry well for flower arrangements. Even better, if you deadhead the flowers promptly, the plant will often produce a second flush.

Astrantia 'Abbey Road' is perennial in nature, so will come back year after year, and is ideal for flower beds and borders, and underplanting taller shrubs and garden trees. It also makes a perfect plant for a summer patio container. Plant in a sunny or dapple-shaded location, ideally with moist, well-drained soil, as this will produce the best foliage colour.

The main common name for Astrantia is masterwort, but a lesser-known name is Aunt Hattie's pincushion—because the individual flowers emanate from the centre of the head, on pin-like stalks... don't ask who Aunt Hattie was!