Astrantia

Alice, you are right. I have just looked at my RHS seed germination instructions and it says Astrantia needs 4 weeks cold stratification and can then take up to a year to germinate.

Having said that, I take all sowing instructions with a pinch of salt. I have just sown some Echium russicum seeds. The packet said keep warm for 6 - 8 weeks, then cold stratify for 6 - 8 weeks, then repeat if neccessary. I just put them in my heated propagator and they germinated in 8 days! :D

Marley - I agree I really like 'Hadspen Blood'. I was looking through Chiltern's seed catalogue tonight and I see that you can buy 'Hadspen Blood' seeds and a few other named varieties as well.

 

For a display this year you will need to buy plants as soon as you see them in spring.
If you manage to germinate seed the most you could expect this year would be a single flower.

I find that freshly collected seed germinates like mustard and cress so you could see if you can find anyone who will let you have some this summer.
I have 'Gill Richardson group' which is another good dark red - lots of good varieties out there these days

 

I've done a bit more googling about this plant (you have me wanting more now Victoria!) and it also seems they don't like dry soil or being moved.

Go and chat to your local garden centre and ask them when they are expecting to get some in. My local place do small perennial plants 3 for £10.00 which is better value than one large plant at say £8-10.00.

Guess where I'll be going this morning - thanks Victoria! :dh:

 

Well, I'm just a beginner, but I have been looking through seed catalogues and they enchanted me when I saw how beautiful the flowers are.

I have just discovered a cottage nursery and got a few perennials in little pots yesterday, 4 for 7 quid. I'll give them a call and ask if and when they'll have some.

My dad used to grow 'everlasting flowers' when I was a kid, are they the same family?

 

Not heard that name for them but that doesn't mean anything.

A handy tip - repot your little perennials for a while before planting them out in the border. That way they get the benefits of fresh compost and will grow a bit more and be able to survive better. It works for me. Your newly found nursery should be able to get Astrantia for you, but do a google and decide which ones you want.

 

I had intended to pot them on. Infact the bloke who owns the nursery recommended buying a grow bag, as I only wanted a small amount of compost, which a really cheap way of doing it, only 1.45!

Just shows not everyone is out for money!

Thanks Aaron for all your advice. I will enjoy researching astrantias over a coffee when my youngest has a nap. Bliss!

 

Sounds like a good nursery - maybe post a recommendation in the appropriate thread further down the forum? If it was close to me, I'd like to visit!

 

Lovage - I see you are also from N Yorks. There is a very good nursery in Halifax - Dove Cottage Nursery http://www.dovecottagenursery.co.uk/ if you are ever that way.

I have an Astrantia 'Gill Richardson' from there. I was told that it is even longer flowering than 'Hadspen Blood'. I can't comment on that as mine is not properly established yet. If anyone else is near they have a very large selection of Astrantias - you can download their list from their site, which tells you a bit more about the different varieties.

 

I know the nursery well and would reccomend it to anyone interested in perennials

Have we ever had a thread on reccomended specialist nurseries?

 

There's the Retailer Feedback section further down...it could be utilised a lot more I think.

 

Victoria, I asked at my local GC yesterday - they are not expecting to get any Astrantia plants in until end of April (probably so they look at their best for flowering in May onwards).

 

Thanks Aaron. I had an email back from the cottage nursery saying astrantia are not something they have.

Maybe I'll risk bare root plants after all.

 

Try them by all means but buy several boxes and plant together as you get virtually nothing with only one.

Start them off in a pot now, outside will be fine and plant out only when you have a good amount of growth on the crown.

 

Would they do better started off on kitchen windowsill, or mini-greenhouse? A little warm encouragement?

 

Outside in the greenhouse should be fine. Don't get too disheartened if they don't all grow though :(