Looking good for a second time.... Astrantia

I always advise my clients to cut down some of the earlier flowering perennials like Geraniums and  Alchemilla Mollis but also Astrantia, about mid July. This leaves a gap for about 3-4 weeks, but gives them the chance to regrow their foliage so that it's fresh again right into September and October. If you don't trim them, they will look exhausted by the end of July, and let down the freshness of the plants around them.

Astrantia are a large group comprising white, pale pink, and claret coloured flowers. There foliage is excellent for ground cover, so plant in groups of 3-5.  There is even a variegated leaf form. But whatever the variety, the growth habit it the same. They prefer a soil which is reasonably moist,  and are happier in semi shade, although sun is fine so long as kept moist.   And the insects love them too.

Their natural flowering time is early June for a few weeks, until their flowers fade to pale brown and soon begin to set seed. THAT is the time to dead head any brownish looking flowers, then when they have all finished flowering, take some secateurs and cut all the foliage right down to ground level. In a dry summer like we have just had, they need a good drink regularly to recover, but by mid August the foliage will be looking great once more, and they will provide a second flowering lasting into October.

They are really interesting flowers and look amazing close up.Here are a few from my own garden this morning. All in their second flush of flowering.