I have Vanilla Gorilla, and while I'm disappointed it has reverted to being non-variegated (or, at least so minimally variegated I'm calling it reverted), I do like the foliage - the shade of green is pleasing, leaf shape is contrasts nicely with adjacent plants (brunnera, chasmanthium), and the flowers are not showstoppers but unusual and pleasant. :0)

the flowers are not showstoppers but unusual and pleasant.

When one shoots a closeup (macro) of the flower it is spectacular.

That looks terrific. Love Astrantia. I have grown A. major and A. m. 'Lars' for years.

The species is suited to a wilder section of the garden but 'Lars' is such a great plant with a very long bloom period.

I'm with you rouge, I think the flowers are fascinating both in their structure and arrangement.

Here is a pic of 'Lars' from quite a while back.

Here is exactly what I mean i.e. from a bit back and a rose flower is of course so much nicer than any Astrantia bloom but up up close the roles are reversed:

This is a plant that has never decided it wants to live here :-) I've tried several over the years but it never sticks around. Where do you two have it growing?

I still have a couple, Astrantia major and A. m. ssp. involucrata seed around like crazy, not sure which one mixed in with Campanula primulifolia......

Hadspen Blood with Graham Thomas some grasses and Phuopsis stylosa

Annette

Informative pictures, All.

Have had 'Roma' and 'Hadspen Blood' for years. Clump-forming and long-lived. Find they're great fillers towards the back of perennial borders. Grow happily in the semi-shade resulting from other perennials getting taller though the growing season.

Where do you two have it growing?

'woody', I think I probably have 7 Astrantia in our garden and they experience different light conditions from almost full sun to very much shade and they contribute in each of these locations. The only caveat is that they do need more moisture to keep looking good.

SB, I agree completely ie semi-shade/sun is where they can do well.

As mentioned above we have many Astrantia and there is one that stands out in that it blooms much longer than the others...almost continuously (with dead heading) until the Fall. I am not sure of the specific variety (esteemed GW member 'boday' thought it was Roma but it seems much darker than it). Here it is today:

Thanks for all the great photos of Astrantia. I really like the darker tone of the last one that Rouge posted.

Aftermidnight referred to this plant seeding around. How much of a pest do you find these to be, or are y'all better at deadheading than I am?

As I mentioned I have 7 of these plants scattered about and I see no sign of seeding. I very much recommend these plants.

This was one of my favourite shade perennials. I had one that was doing very well and I just loved
it. Then it died this past winter. I'm happy to hear it reseeds Donna.
I've been noticing some little sprouts in the area and am hoping that's
what it is. I will pot some up just in case. But I've nurtured weeds
before, lol. Here it is in its former glory.