Vanilla Gorilla Masterwort (Astrantia major 'Vanilla Gorilla')
ah-STRAN-tee-ah MAY-jor 'Vanilla Gorilla'

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Clump-Forming in the Apiaceae Family
A variegated masterwort with blue-green leaves edged in broad, creamy vanilla margins, blushing pink in cool weather, topped by silvery-pink pincushion flowers loved by bees and pollinators.
Vanilla Gorilla is a striking variegated selection of Astrantia major, prized as much for its foliage as its flowers. Deeply lobed, serrated blue-green leaves are edged in broad, creamy vanilla-white margins that often blush soft pink as temperatures cool in autumn. In early to midsummer, wiry stems lift a profusion of silvery-pink pincushion-form flowerheads — each a cluster of tiny true flowers ringed by papery bracts — well above the foliage mound. Discovered by Brad Grover at Hoffie Nursery's production facility in Union, Illinois, after six years of trialing, it combines the easy, clump-forming habit of the species with reliably showy, sun-tolerant variegation that holds its color without scorching.

Pros

  • Boldly variegated blue-green and cream foliage adds interest even before bloom
  • Silvery-pink pincushion flowers are long-lasting and beloved by bees and pollinators
  • Deer and rabbit resistant
  • Tolerates full sun with consistent moisture, unlike many variegated shade perennials

Cons

  • Foliage variegation can partially green out in deep shade
  • As a variegated selection, must be propagated by division, not seed, to stay true
  • Best flower and leaf color needs consistently moist soil
Highlights Variegated blue-green foliage with broad vanilla-cream margins, pink-blushed in cool weather; silvery-pink pincushion flowers in early to midsummer; deer resistant; full-sun tolerant with steady moisture.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 16 - 24 inches tall. 12 - 20 inches wide.
Growth Rate Medium
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet: Performs best with consistently moist soil and does not tolerate drought well; also tolerates periodically wet sites, making it a good fit for the moist edges of rain gardens or low spots that don't stay waterlogged.
Zones 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, For a Shady Spot, Full Sun, Good for Borders, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Medium, Non-Allergenic, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Loamy Soil, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Variegated Foliage, Well-Drained Soil, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period June to July
Flower Color Silvery-Pink
Foliage Color Blue-Green, Cream Margin

Photos of This with...

Masterpiece Masterwort
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 06/08 - 09/06
2023 : 04/13 - 08/27

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!