Astrantia major - hybrida Ruby Cloud
Growing Astrantia from seeds from existing plants
Although experience is useful, growing Astrantia from seed should be an easy affair as long as you offer the favoured conditions. These perennial plants prefer heavy damp soil in partial shade so don’t expect good germination in a hot sunny greenhouse.
Some people prefer to germinate Astrantia in trays with a plentiful grit cover and left outside during colder weather until the first seedlings appear. Leaving a tray under a successful parent plant is said to be a good method for encouraging germination.
Astrantia major hybrida Ruby Cloud
Ideal for borders and cut flowers and grows only 30 inches high. Thin upright stems, large flowers of ruby, tinged in apple green. True from seed and wonderful in the damp border.
Astrantai major can be sown from February to July just covering the seeds with compost. Use good moist peat or coir based seed compost. Seal inside a polythene bag, keep at 13-18C (55-60F) for 1 week, then place in a refrigerator, at 3-5C (35-41 F). Inspect regularly while in the fridge and remove immediately if they start to germinate. After 6 weeks return to warmth. Germination usually takes 30-80 days overall (at all temperatures), but if germination does not occur in 6-10 weeks return to fridge for a further 3-6 weeks.
Transplant when large enough to handle into 7.5cm (3in) pots. Acclimatise young plants to outdoor conditions before planting out 30cm (12in) apart in, moist, well drained soil, sun or part shade.
You can buy Astrantia Seeds from Thompson and Morgan.